1917 Nickel

During 1920-1921 plans moved forward for the replacement of the small silver 5 cents piece with a larger coin of pure nickel, the same size as the U.S. nickel. The enabling legislation was passed in May 1921 and thereafter no more circulating 5 cent pieces were coined in silver. The mint melted some 3,022,665 coins of this denomination.

Composition:

1912-1919: .925 silver, .075 copper

1920-1921: .800 silver, .200 copper