The term nickel is synonomous with a five-cent denomination coin. In the early years of U.S. monetary supply, however, silver half dimes were used as five-cent pieces.

With so many silver coins disappearing from the United States during and after the Civil War, the government introduced nickel coins—three-cent and five-cent—to curb the outflow.

Four different major designs of nickel five-cent pieces have served our nation’s needs since 1866, beginning with Shield nickels, and followed by Liberty Head nickels, Buffalo nickels, and Jefferson nickels.