The Economic Times

The nickel still costs more to make than its face value; the U.S. Mint shipped about 600 million in 2025 at 13.31 cents each

For the past twenty years, the production of nickels has been unprofitable, with costs surpassing their actual value. Increasing metal prices have intensified these production challenges. The U.S. Mint continues to manufacture nickels to meet the ongoing demand from different industries, despite the losses incurred. Although alternative materials have been investigated, none have proven effective so far. To sustain economic stability, the Mint manages its coin circulation program holistically.