Numismatic definitions
Like most fields of expertise, numismatics has its own lingo. Find the numismatic definition of a term by entering it in the field below.
Nickel
Metallic element, chemical symbol Ni, a hard white metal relatively resistant to tarnish, and extensively used as a cheap substitute for silver. It was first used for the American 5 cent coin in 1866, hence its popular name which has stuck ever since, although nowadays the higher denominations are minted in an alloy of copper and nickel. Although best known as a silver substitute, nickel was widely used in Jamaica (1869-1969) for halfpence and pennies and in British West Africa for the tiny 1/10th pennies (1908-57). Pure nickel is used for French francs and German marks, but usually it is alloyed with copper or zinc to produce cupro-nickel or nickel brass.
