Editing Nickel (section)

===United States===
[[File:Nickel Prices.webp|thumb|300px|Nickel prices 2018–2022 <br> {{see also|2020s commodities boom}}]]
In the United States, the term "nickel" or "nick" originally applied to the copper-nickel [[Flying Eagle cent]], which replaced copper with 12% nickel 1857–58, then the [[Indian Head cent]] of the same alloy from 1859 to 1864. Still later, in 1865, the term designated the [[Three-cent piece (United States coin)|three-cent nickel]], with nickel increased to 25%. In 1866, the [[Nickel (United States coin)#Shield nickel (1866–1883)|five-cent shield nickel]] (25% nickel, 75% copper) appropriated the designation, which has been used ever since for the subsequent 5-cent pieces. This alloy proportion is not [[ferromagnetic]].

The [[Nickel (United States coin)|US nickel coin]] contains {{convert|0.04|oz|g}} of nickel, which at the April 2007 price was worth 6.5 cents, along with 3.75&nbsp;grams of copper worth about 3 cents, with a total metal value of more than 9 cents. Since the face value of a nickel is 5 cents, this made it an attractive target for melting by people wanting to sell the metals at a profit. The [[United States Mint]], anticipating this practice, implemented new interim rules on December 14, 2006, subject to public comment for 30 days, which criminalized the melting and export of cents and nickels.<ref>[http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=724 United States Mint Moves to Limit Exportation & Melting of Coins] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527072103/http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom//index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=724 |date=May 27, 2016 }}, The United States Mint, press release, December 14, 2006</ref> Violators can be punished with a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a maximum of five years in prison.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-04-16|title=Prohibition on the Exportation, Melting, or Treatment of 5-Cent and One-Cent Coins|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/04/16/E7-7088/prohibition-on-the-exportation-melting-or-treatment-of-5-cent-and-one-cent-coins|access-date=2021-08-28|website=Federal Register}}</ref> As of February 19, 2025, the melt value of a US nickel (copper and nickel included) is $0.054 (108% of the face value).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.coinflation.com/| title = United States Circulating Coinage Intrinsic Value Table| access-date = February 19, 2025| publisher = Coininflation.com| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160617065505/http://www.coinflation.com/| archive-date = June 17, 2016| url-status = live}}</ref>