The composition of the Buffalo nickel, a United States five-cent coin minted from 1913 to 1938, primarily consisted of copper and nickel. Specifically, the alloy was 75% copper and 25% nickel. This combination resulted in a durable and cost-effective coin for circulation. The absence of precious metals in the composition ensured that the face value of the coin accurately reflected its intrinsic metal value.
The established metallic content had significant implications for the coin’s longevity and resistance to wear during circulation. Furthermore, the use of base metals helped to stabilize the coin’s value against fluctuations in precious metal markets, preventing speculative hoarding that could disrupt the economy. The consistent composition throughout its mintage years provided reliability in trade and commerce.