Composition sources: U.S. Mint current specifications; PCGS CoinFacts specifications for Shield, Liberty Head, Buffalo, and three-cent nickels; and NGC's wartime-alloy specification. Identification source: U.S. Mint mintmark guidance. Legal source: 31 CFR Part 82. Reviewed .
| Coin | Contained metal | Each | Of face | Qty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shield nickel 1866–1883 | 3.75 g Cu + 1.25 g Ni | $0.0748 | 149.6% | — | |
| Liberty Head V nickel 1883–1912 | 3.75 g Cu + 1.25 g Ni | $0.0748 | 149.6% | — | |
| Buffalo nickel 1913–1938 | 3.75 g Cu + 1.25 g Ni | $0.0748 | 149.6% | — | |
| Jefferson nickel (standard alloy) 1938–mid-1942; 1946–present | 3.75 g Cu + 1.25 g Ni | $0.0748 | 149.6% | — | |
| Silver war nickel 1942–1945; large reverse mintmark | 0.05626 ozt Ag | $3.2456 | 6,491.3% | — | |
| Three-cent nickel 1865–1889 | 1.458 g Cu + 0.486 g Ni | $0.0291 | 97.0% | — |
Nickel roll and box values
| Quantity | Contained-metal value |
|---|---|
| 1 standard nickel | $0.0748 |
| $2 roll / 40 standard nickels | $2.99 |
| $100 box / 2,000 standard nickels | $149.62 |
| 1 silver war nickel | $3.2456 |
| $2 roll / 40 war nickels | $129.83 |
| $100 box / 2,000 war nickels | $6,491.28 |
The 1942 composition trap
Only the wartime-alloy 1942 nickels with a large P, D, or S mintmark above Monticello use the silver row. A 1942 nickel without that large reverse mintmark belongs in the standard-alloy row. All 1943–1945 nickels use the wartime alloy. The war-nickel value follows the established silver-only melt convention; it does not add a speculative copper or manganese recovery payment.
Metal value is not collector value
Shield, Liberty Head, Buffalo, wartime, and key-date Jefferson nickels can trade above their metal value. Never clean a coin. Identify its date, mintmark, variety, and condition before accepting a metal-only price. Use the separate war nickel calculator for year-specific quantities or the US copper and nickel coin table for cents and earlier denominations.
Legal restriction
31 CFR Part 82 generally prohibits melting or processing US one-cent and five-cent coins for metal recovery and limits bulk export, with narrow exceptions. The displayed amounts are informational contained-metal comparisons, not recovery recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standard US nickel worth in metal?
Its contained-metal value is 3.75 grams of copper plus 1.25 grams of nickel at the editable prices shown above. Collector value and the legal restriction on melting are separate.
How much silver is in a war nickel?
A correctly identified wartime-alloy nickel contains 35% silver by weight: about 1.75 grams or 0.05626 troy ounce of pure silver.
How do I identify a 1942 silver war nickel?
A silver-alloy 1942 nickel has a large P, D, or S mintmark above Monticello on the reverse. A 1942 nickel without that large reverse mintmark uses the standard copper-nickel alloy.
Are Buffalo and Jefferson nickels the same composition?
Standard Buffalo and Jefferson nickels both use a 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy at a nominal five-gram weight, so their contained-metal values are equal.
Can I legally melt US nickels?
31 CFR Part 82 generally prohibits melting or processing US five-cent coins for metal recovery and limits bulk export, subject to listed exceptions.