The composition of United States five-cent items minted previous to 1965 is a subject of appreciable numismatic curiosity. These cash, typically referred to by their face worth, possess a metallic make-up distinct from these produced afterward. Particularly, they comprise a major proportion of a valuable steel, giving them intrinsic worth past their nominal value. For example, these cash could comprise 90% silver and 10% copper.
The inclusion of this valuable steel in coinage represented a historic normal that mirrored the financial realities of the time. The inherent worth of the coin’s metallic content material offered stability and confidence within the forex. This follow was discontinued resulting from rising prices related to these metals, resulting in a shift towards base steel compositions. This modification considerably altered the intrinsic and funding worth of pre-1965 coinage.