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The first US nickel coins weren’t worth a nickel!The first US nickel coins were actually… pennies! They began circulating in 1857.But as our first nickel coin, the public immediately called this piece a “nickel”-- and so it was, until 1865, when the next nickel coin, worth three cents, appeared. And the five cent nickel? 1866. Finally… a nickel worthy of the name, at least to our ears. But... the switch to nickel was not without problems. For the US Mint, nickels were a bother!Nickel is an extremely hard metal, so coins made of nickel would be quite durable. But, coins with even a minor percentage of nickel are difficult to strike. Steel dies wear out more quickly. Designs that would strike well in copper, silver or gold often appeared weakly struck in nickel alloy. US nickel coins required a new sensibility on the part of the designer. And the pressmen were under a great deal of pressure as well. (Sorry.)So…why nickel?Nickel was politically correct, in the nineteenth century sense. The Mint, a controversial institution that generally needed all the political support it could attract, benefited from the kind regard of one Joseph Wharton, a well connected and influential Philadelphia businessman with significant holdings in western nickel mines.So… never mind that the dies were crumbling and presses rumbling… just load the wagons with nickel and… Press On! Now learn the details of each US nickel, including the:
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