Nickels from 1922- 1981 were made of 100% nickel, except for the tombac issues of 1942-43, and the chromium-plated steel issues of 1944-45, and 1951-1954.the nickels from 1982-2001 were made of 75%copper-25%nickel, and the 2002- issues were made of nickel and copper platings on a steel core. The nickel issues are magnetic, the copper-nickel issues are not magnetic, and the plated steel issues are also magnetic.