I think Canadian collectors tend to reject calling the small silver 5c piece a "nickel", since "nickel" refers to the metal that was originally used to make the current 21+ mm form-factor (starting in 1922 for Canada).
"Fishscales" is the nickname used for the small (15.5 mm diameter) 5c silver pieces (1858-1921)
There have never been any circulation silver "nickel" form-factor coins released in Canada. But, there have been some NCLT commemoratives. And since 1996, the proof sets have had silver 5c pieces.
Rather than switching the nickels to a silver alloy during wartime as in the US, in Canada the nickels were switched to brass ("tombac") and later chrome plated steel. Steel was used again during the Korean War.
Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited. Contact Us | Advertise Here | Privacy Policy / Terms of Use