Why Your Change Feels Weird—This Nickel Change May Surprise You

Mon, 04 May 2026 10:47:26 +0000

# Why Your Change Feels Weird—This Nickel Change May Surprise You Have you ever received change and felt strange—almost disoriented—by how it looks or feels? That odd sensation often comes from holding a familiar nickel instead of a newer, smoother coin. At first glance, a 1943 nickel may look like any other U.S. cent, but behind its surprising appearance lies a fascinating story that explains why this change still feels weird decades later. ## The Unusual Composition of the 1943 Nickel Normally, U.S. pennies and nickels are made from copper and other metal alloys. But during a pivotal moment in American history—the Battle of World War II—metric changes disrupted coin production. In 1943, the U.S. switched from nickel to steel pennies to conserve nickel for military use. However, a small batch of copper-nickel 1943 nickels was mistakenly minted, creating a rare and historically significant coin.