Are Buffalo nickels made of silver? You might be surprised

The curious case of Buffalo nickels

You probably don’t think about coins much, if at all. But one question still might fascinate young coin and history buffs: Are buffalo nickels made of silver? Let’s find out!

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The composition of Buffalo nickels

As it turns out, Buffalo nickels aren't actually made of silver. Surprised? These coins, also known as Indian Head nickels, were minted from 1913-1938 and are composed of a mixture of copper and nickel. 

The exception: War nickels

But wait, there's more to this story. During World War II, the U.S. produced nickels containing silver. Due to the war effort, these coins, often referred to as "war nickels," are made of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese.

Stack ‘em up: Buffalo nickel U.S. coin measurements

Despite their less-than-silver contents, Buffalo nickels still hold significant historical and monetary value. Their size is comparable to other U.S. coins, with a diameter of 21.2 mm and a thickness of 1.95 mm. So if you're looking to add some Buffalo nickels to your coin collection, make sure you have enough space in your stash!

Wrapping up the Buffalo nickel mystery

While Buffalo nickels aren’t made of silver, there are other U.S. nickels that do contain silver. It's a fascinating bit of coin history, don't you think?

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