Jefferson Nickel (1938 to date) - Jefferson Nickels are United States Five Cent coins. They were first produced in 1938. They are still produced today. This coin was the third coin made by the United States that featured a US President. Thomas Jefferson is on the obverse (front) of the coin.
Nickel (Ni) is a transition element that exhibits a mixture of ferrous and nonferrous metal properties. It is both siderophile (i.e., associates with iron) and chalcophile (i.e., associates with sulfur). The bulk of the nickel mined comes from two types of ore deposits:
These five-cent pieces were minted for circulation by the U.S. Mint from 1883 to 1913. Like other coin types, V-Nickel values can vary significantly based on condition and date. V-Nickels dated pre-1897 can command significant premiums and many are worth $4 to $5 a piece. A rare 1885 V-Nickel, however, may garner a premium of nearly $400. A coin valued at five cents was the first official coin of the United States (in 1792), but nickels did not appear in the U.S. On May 16 of that year, Congress passed an act to usher in the new five-cent coin, made of 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper. 5 Cents (Nickels and Half Dimes) Shield Nickel (1866-1883) Liberty Nickel (1883-1913) Buffalo Nickel (1913-1938) Jefferson Nickel (1938 to Date) Bust Half Dime (1792) Flowing Hair Half Dime (1794-1795) Draped Bust Half Dime (1796-1805) Capped Bust Half Dime (1829-1837) Liberty Seated Half Dime (1837-1873) 20 Cents & 25 Cents (Quarters).
- laterites where the principal ore minerals are nickeliferous limonite [(Fe,Ni)O(OH)] and garnierite (a hydrous nickel silicate), or
- magmatic sulfide deposits where the principal ore mineral is pentlandite [(Ni,Fe)9S8].
The ionic radius of divalent nickel is close to that of divalent iron and magnesium, allowing the three elements to substitute for one another in the crystal lattices of some silicates and oxides. Nickel sulfide deposits are generally associated with iron- and magnesium-rich rocks called ultramafics and can be found in both volcanic and plutonic settings. Many of the sulfide deposits occur at great depth. Laterites are formed by the weathering of ultramafic rocks and are a near-surface phenomenon. Most of the nickel on Earth is believed to be concentrated in the planet's core.
Nickel is primarily sold for first use as refined metal (cathode, powder, briquet, etc.) or ferronickel. About 65% of the nickel consumed in the Western World is used to make austenitic stainless steel. Another 12% goes into superalloys (e.g., Inconel 600) or nonferrous alloys (e.g., cupronickel). Both families of alloys are widely used because of their corrosion resistance. The aerospace industry is a leading consumer of nickel-base superalloys. Turbine blades, discs and other critical parts of jet engines are fabricated from superalloys. Nickel-base superalloys are also used in land-based combustion turbines, such those found at electric power generation stations. The remaining 23% of consumption is divided between alloy steels, rechargeable batteries, catalysts and other chemicals, coinage, foundry products, and plating. The principal commercial chemicals are the carbonate (NiCO3), chloride (NiCl2), divalent oxide (NiO), and sulfate (NiSO4). In aqueous solution, the divalent nickel ion has an emerald-green color.
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Special Publications
- Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, and Steel Commodity Price Influences
Open-File Report 2007–1257 - Factors that Influence the Price of Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Rare Earth Elements, and Zn
Open-File Report 2008-1356 - Historical Statistics for Mineral and Material Commodities in the United States
Data Series 140 - International Mineral Exploration Activities From 1995 Through 2004
Data Series 139 - Material Use in the United States—Selected Case Studies for Cadmium, Cobalt, Lithium, and Nickel in Rechargeable Batteries
Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5141 - Metal Prices in the United States through 2010
Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5188 - Ni-Co Laterite Deposits of the World-Database and Grade and Tonnage Models
Open-File Report 2011-1058 - Nickel - Makes Stainless Steel Strong
Fact Sheet 2012-3024 - Nickel Recycling in the United States in 2004
Circular 1196–Z - Statistical Compendium
- U.S. Mineral Dependence-Statistical Compilation of U.S. and World Mineral Production, Consumption, and Trade, 1990-2010
Open-File Report 2013-1184
Us Nickel Errors
Other Sources of Information
Us Nickels Worth Money
- Chemical Industry Applications of Industrial Minerals and Metals. Bureau of Mines Special Publication, 1993, 158 pp.