When were the first silver nickels minted?
grayroads
Posts: 211 ✭✭
There have been many valuable comments and images posted in answer to my question about the minting of the 1942 proof set. There is some disagreement as to when the first "silver" nickels were minted. Two conflicting statements are posted below. Can anyone shade some factual light on this question? Thanks!
"After considerable Mint experimentation with various alloys, a composition of 35% silver/56% copper/9% manganese was finally agreed upon and the minting of this composition began on September 18, 1942."
"An alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese proved suitable, and this alloy began to be coined into nickels from October 1942"
"After considerable Mint experimentation with various alloys, a composition of 35% silver/56% copper/9% manganese was finally agreed upon and the minting of this composition began on September 18, 1942."
"An alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese proved suitable, and this alloy began to be coined into nickels from October 1942"
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Edit: Sorry, it wasn't until after I posted I realized you're looking for a precise date.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
July of 1792.
<< <i>"When were the first silver nickels minted?"
July of 1792.
That was what I immediately thought too!
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
<< <i>Refined phrasing of the question: Note that one answer is Sept. 18, 1942, while the other is Octorber 1942. In essence the real question then is how long were the "silver" nickels in production? >>
...sounds like something RWB could field, of course that would have to be asked ATS...
The Act of May 16, 1866 provided for the striking of five cent coins composed of twenty-five percent nickel. These were called five-cent pieces, not nickels.
I am not aware of any Act that authorized "Nickels" as an American coin.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
<< <i>Refined phrasing of the question: Note that one answer is Sept. 18, 1942, while the other is October 1942. In essence the real question then is how long were the "silver" nickels in production? >>
As to your remark above:
Point 1. I believe that whoever provided you with a statement alleging that the 1942 silver war nickel production began in October, 1942 most likely interpreted their source wrong. I firmly believe that the initial coinage began on September 18, and that the coins were placed in circulation in October. Bear in mind that the infrastructure in place in the continental U.S. in the fall of 1942 would have made it difficult to have the coins ready for circulation for at least several weeks from initial coinage.
Point 2. Obviously the 35% silver nickels were in production from September 1942 until some time in 1945, presumably shortly after Japan surrendered, and WWII officially ended.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
<< <i>Point 2. Obviously the 35% silver nickels were in production from September 1942 until some time in 1945, presumably shortly after Japan surrendered, and WWII officially ended. >>
I would guess that as needed for circulation, production of war nickels continued through the end of 1945, since the Mint did not revert to the pre-war alloy until calendar year 1946.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
Might it have been a 1983P dime?
<< <i>I don't believe that 90% silver coins have a silver laminate over a bronze core.
Might it have been a 1983P dime? >>
True. I doubt that copper is considered a "precious metal," but falls under the category of "industrial metals."
With all due respect to John Harper, and in my own defense, my comment was intended as a joke, and not as actual historical fact. Evidently my meager attempt at humor fell on deaf ears. In the future, I will leave the humor to the professionals.
One caveat: Breen's books are sometimes more works of fiction than of fact.
Jim
<< <i>"When were the first silver nickels minted?"
July of 1792.
Technically incorrect. Half dimes were NEVER called nickels. But your point is well taken.
You could have 95% silver alloyed with 5% copper it's still a bronze due to the copper.
It's a Interesting in subject to educate ones self on.
90% silver coins are a Corinthian black bronze at the core.They are a precious metal alloyed with copper.
<< <i>Technically a bronze is copper.It is when copper is alloyed with any metal Including silver it is considered a bronze.
You could have 95% silver alloyed with 5% copper it's still a bronze due to the copper.
It's a Interesting in subject to educate ones self on.
90% silver coins are a Corinthian black bronze at the core.They are a precious metal alloyed with copper. >>
You are incorrect. An alloy has to be primarily copper to be considered a bronze.
link
"A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read." Mark Twain
See above.
<< <i>This is why even most 90% silver coins at the core are a bronze.they are a precious metal alloy of copper and silver under the silver lamination.I have a 1953p dime that was diverted by metal detector in New Jersey after tropical storm Sandy.When they removed the old boardwalks it was discovered in the sand.Over the years the sand and seawater removed the laminate revealing it's alloy core.I was dumbfounded about this one for months until reading about precious metal alloys.It even has some green tarnish in the reeding do to the copper.I call it a environmentally damaged naked dime.It's great for stumping others. >>
??????? Where in the heck did you get this idea ?
<< <i>
<< <i>"When were the first silver nickels minted?"
July of 1792.
Technically incorrect. Half dimes were NEVER called nickels. But your point is well taken. >>
I remember, on occasion, Teletrade would list half dimes in with nickels and it would really tick me off.
I felt sorry for the consigner too, if his/her coins were listed this way.