Nickels cost, US Mint, ten cents to produce. The metal content (75% copper & 25% nickel), today, is around $.032 and has been as high as $.09, almost a dime. There is a glut of copper depressing prices, too. The nickel was introduced after the US Civil War ( War between the States) to replace the silver half dime. The silver half dime was still minted for about more 20 years. There are rumors, of the US discontinuing both the nickel and cent, soon. I hoard nickels (and pre-1982 copper cents) and spend the rest of my change.