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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,014 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
What were the first three coin series' referred to as a Nickel? What was another nickname used for the coin with that metal? Who (business) introduced the metal to United States coinage? Which Mint Director favored its (early) usage and why? Which Mint Director hated its (early) usage and why? Edited by Prethen
02/28/2011 10:53 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
565 Posts |
Half dimes, Flying eagles and IHC were called nickles The Three Cent nickle. Nicks Phone company Pay phone |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3234 Posts |
Eh...Half Dimes?...bzzzzztt...try again
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Pillar of the Community
United States
565 Posts |
Shield, liberty, Indian head nicks Phone company (payphone) James Pollock against striking coins in nickle James Pollock is was for it after seeing the success of the Three Cent piece. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1510 Posts |
Applying the term "nickel" to a coin precedes the usage of five-cent pieces made from nickel alloy. The term was originally applied to the 1857--1858 Flying Eagle cent and the Indian Head cent coin from 1859 to 1864, which were composed of copper-nickel. Throughout the Civil War these cents were referred to as "nickels" or "nicks." When the three-cent nickel came onto the scene in 1865, these were the new "nickels" to the common person on the street Retired USAF 1983-2003
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
Coinstar...that's funny that you posted that since I was the one who originally wrote that exact quote in Wikipedia several years ago! But, that is correct. Of course, the third coin is what TD5173 pointed out...the Shield nickel. TD5173 you did also answer the who hated nickel (but not why). And don't forget...who liked nickel...and why. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1510 Posts |
well that is what I googled! LOL
Retired USAF 1983-2003
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Pillar of the Community
United States
565 Posts |
Pollock felt that only coins of 3 cents or below should be made of base metals.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Early nickels were also called coppers, which they have three times as much content as nickels.
Or are you thinking of picayune, which is actually 6¼¢, but has been used for nickels?
US residents don't realize it, because our nickels really don't contain much nickel, but nickel is magnetic. This is why Canadian coins, made of pure nickel, jam vending machines.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
I think the first part is pretty much nailed: Flying Eagle/Indian cents up until 1864 (I counted them as one...maybe I shouldn't have), Three Cent Nickels up until 1866, and finally Shield nickels and all future five cent denominated coins to date. Pollack hated nickel. Why did he hate nickel? Which person in a position of influence liked it and why? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
565 Posts |
Pollock had previously been an opponent of nickel coinage. He saw first hand how difficult 12% nickel coins (the 1857-64 cents) were to strike and how the hard, brittle metal broke dies and injured the Mint's machinery. He also knew how politically persuasive one Joseph Wharton was in the halls of Congress. Wharton owned the largest nickel mine in America and had lobbied Congress for many years to use the metal in the nation's coinage.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
TD5173...nailed most of the it! Just missing who liked it and why...but you're close on the heels of the answer.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,014 |
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Posted 02/28/2011 10:52 pm
