Name That Other Coin

Good question actually. However you can call anything whatever you want. Almost sounds like that post about PENNIES.
The only way to really know I guess would be to see if it fits in a Nickel vending machine, gum ball machine, etc. If not, then it's not a Nickel. Contrary to that though is I've never heard of a Half Dime vending machine either.
One problem too is the large variety of sizes in those so which ones would you want to call a Nickel?
Personally I'd stick to Half Dime.
Sort of like trying to call a 2 cent piece almost a Nickel.

Sure, you can call it Fred or Kathy if you want to........ but the 5 cent coin that is generally referred to as "a nickel" is done so due to its nickel content..... Half Dimes had no nickel content.

I'll give you a whole dime for two halves :)

The first coin to be called a nickel was not a five cent piece but the nickel Three Cent piece. In 1866 the new five cent pieces were struck with a nickel composition were they too called nickels? It must have been confusing to people during the period from 1866 to 1889 when the nickel Three Cent and the nickel five cent coins circulated simultaneously. What was a nickel worth, Three Cents or five cents?


ANA LM-3175

I would say no. The coin actually say Half Dime. I have referred to them as those "small silver nickels" before. The Canadian version of these coins I refer to as five cent pieces but the US one are defiantly Half Dimes.