how much do nickels weigh

[MacRosalie]

Hello there! That's a great question with a surprisingly interesting history.

For any modern U.S. nickel you might find in your pocket, the answer is very straightforward. All U.S. nickels minted since 1965 weigh exactly 5.0 grams, which is the same as 0.176 ounces. These coins are composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

Interestingly, the weight of the 5-cent piece has changed over the years. The very first version, called a "half disme" and proposed in 1792, was much lighter at only 1.20 grams. The weight fluctuated for many decades, and early versions were even made of silver. The 5-gram weight we are familiar with today was introduced with the "Shield" nickels starting in 1866, when a copper and nickel blend was used because silver was harder to come by after the Civil War.

So, while any nickel you use today is 5 grams, that hasn't always been the standard