canadian nickel composition Canadian 5 cent coins minted for circulation: [TABLE="class: wikitable, width: 1"] 2000–present 3.95 g 21.2 mm, round 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating 1982–1999 (some production until 2006) 4.6 g 21.2 mm, round 75% copper, 25% nickel 1963–1981 4.54 g 21.21 mm, round 99.9% nickel 1955–1962 4.54 g 21.21 mm, 12-sided 99.9% nickel 1951–1954 4.54 g 21.21 mm, 12-sided chrome-plated steel 1946–1951 4.54 g 21.21 mm, 12-sided 99.9% nickel 1944–1945 4.54 g 21.21 mm, 12-sided chrome-plated steel 1942–1943 4.54 g 21.21 mm, 12-sided 88% copper, 12% zinc ("tombac") 1922–1942 4.54 g 21.21 mm, round 99.9% nickel 1920–1921 1.167 g 14.494 mm, round 80% silver, 20% copper 1858–1919 1.167 g 14.494 mm, round 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper [/TABLE]
I'm not aware of any Canadian 5 cents coins being made of nickel silver. The last Canadian 5 Cent coin made of silver was in 1921. After that most of their issues were in Nickel with the WWII exceptions of the Tombac and some later issues in Chrome plated Steel. I know that the US made some silver content 5 cent coins during WWII. El Salvador also sporadically issued some Nickel-Silver 5 Centavos in the 1940's & 50's.
Basically, if its the size of a US nickel its not silver. Only Canada's version of the US half dime were silver, so size is the first giveaway.
Canadian proof nickels from proof sets (not specimen sets or proof-like sets) from 1996 to the present are sterling silver (92.5% pure). They weigh 5.35 g, so are heavier than circulation coins. I guess some of these could end up in circulation accidentally. If the coin is from 2000 or newer, a magnet can be used as an easy first check.
You are right sir, sorry I never thought about a proof coin getting into circulation. I make they same error with silver US proof coins, I never think of these as possible circulation coins.
