The five gram five cent piece now mostly consists of copper and costs 10.4 cents to produce, according to the US Mint’s 2022 Biennial Report to Congress, released last week.

"The one and two cent coins went [because of inflation in the early 1990s] and the sun came up the next day, but there's no current consideration to scrap the five cent coin," he added.

Despite the nickel name, the coin contains 25% nickel and 75% copper. During a period of 1942 to 1945, there was no nickel contained in the U.S. nickel.

The five-cent coin previously sold at auction for over $3.17 million in 2013, according to the auction house. Close up of many different type of coins with jar ...

Cost of the half-dollar The half-dollar coin costs nearly 34 cents ($0.3397) to make and distribute. That represents nearly two-thirds of the 50 cent piece's buying power.

That's also more than half of the 25 cent coin's buying power today. The quarter's unit cost has increased by 26.2% since the Mint's 2023 report, when its price tag was closer to 12 cents.