A Nickel is equivalent to 5 pennies or 5 cents or 1/20 dollar or 0.05 usd. twenty nickels make one dollar. each nickel is worth 5 cent. The United States Mint started producing nickels in 1866. These coins were made of copper and nickel, and their design featured a shield on the front and a Union Shield on the back. In 1883, the U.S. Mint changed the composition of nickels to make them entirely of nickel. This new design featured a Native American head on the front and a buffalo on the back. In 1938, the U.S. The nickel was first introduced in the United States in 1866. It was made of copper and silver, but it wasn’t very popular because it was easily damaged. In 1883, the United States started making nickels out of nickel and copper. This new nickel was more durable and became very popular. In 1912, the United States started making nickels out of nickel and copper and zinc. This new nickel was even more durable than the last one and became even more popular.