Yesterday in fact. So what should I do with it?
Actually I have been getting a lot of old nickels in change lately. Typically from 1964 for some reason. But nickels from the 1950’s are not uncommon. I hold onto all of them, I should tell you.
What are they worth? Are any of them made of silver? And while we’re at it, what were nickels made of in 1964? I know at one point they switched over to cupronickel.
If you don’t mind me piggybacking on this thread, I have a similar question.
While walking my dogs on the edge of some parkland, I found a 1900 silver dollar in a creek. Is this worth anything beyond a buck?
The wartime nickels made between 1942 and 1946 contained 35 % silver, but other than that all nickels made since 1913 had the same composition - 75 % copper, 25 % nickel (says Wiki).
Correction: The 75 % copper, 25 % nickel composition is actually much older than 1913. The design of the coins has changed several times, but all nickel designs since 1866 have been made of that alloy, with the exception of the wartime issues mentioned in my earlier post.
I doubt you will find a way to get significantly more than five cents’ worth for them. You could, of course, consult a coin catalog (such as the Red Book) to check prices, but even if they list a higher price for the coin that doesn’t ensure you will actually get it. With coins it’s similar to stamps: Catalog prices are often for coins in better condition than the ones you find in everyday circulation, and they are simply based on an estimate of what you’d likely pay for the coin if you bought it in a numismatic shop, i.e., including the dealer’s mark-up. Finding someone who is actually going to pay you the catalog price for a coin is a whole different matter.
It’s worth 5 cents.
Yes, '47 is a common date.
Find a 1950-D and you can get excited.
In found-in-a-creek condition, it’s probably worth the value of its silver, which is around $20.
I got an old WW2 era wheat penny in my change. I got excited, but when I googled it, it was worth… 12¢.
I’ve got a series 1929 $5 bill. It’s in pretty good condition for being nearly 90 years old. Last time I looked, it was worth nearly $6. Someday I will give it to my grandson when it’s worth $7.
When my sister was in high school, in the early 1970’s, she got a roll of nickels in payment from a customer. It turned out to have all wartime issue nickels in it. She got it out of the register to check on it’s value, but I don’t remember how it turned out.
Nothing beats the 1914-D penny, a true rarity, I once found in a parking lot. I eventually sold it on eBay for several hundred dollars.
As with all coins, the value is determined by scarcity and condition. If you’re not a collector, you can take it to any coin dealer and ask them, but basically it’s worth from about $20 to around $150, depending on condition.