For a certain generation of American kids growing up in the middle of the 20th century, there was no greater coin thrill than coming across a Buffalo nickel. Enough of the coins were still in ...

The nickel has a long history in U.S. money, though it wasn’t the country’s first 5-cent coin. That honor goes to a “half-dime” that first appeared in 1794. Early 5-cent pieces weren’t made of nickel ...