Correct spelling for the English word "nickels" is [nˈɪkə͡lz], [nˈɪkəlz], [n_ˈɪ_k_əl_z] (IPA phonetic alphabet).
Nickels are a type of coin that hold value equal to five cents in the currency of the United States. They are denominated with the symbol "¢" or "$0.05" and are made primarily from a combination of copper and nickel. Nickels are commonly used in daily transactions and are one of the most frequently circulated coins within the United States.
Nickels are distinguished by their size, shape, and metallic composition. They have a diameter of 21.21 mm, a weight of 5 grams, and a thickness of 1.95 mm. The front side of the nickel typically features the profile of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, while the reverse side showcases the image of Monticello, Jefferson's famous home in Virginia.
Originally introduced in 1866, the design and composition of nickels have undergone several changes over time. Older nickels, commonly known as "buffalo nickels," featured a Native American on the front and a buffalo on the reverse. In 2004, a newly redesigned nickel was introduced to commemorate the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition, featuring an image of the reverse side of the Jefferson peace medal.
In addition to being used in commerce, nickels are also collected as a hobby, making them an integral part of numismatics, the study or collection of coins and currency. Some nickels, especially those with minting errors or special commemorative editions, may hold greater value among collectors due to their rarity or unique characteristics.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "nickels" has a straightforward etymology. It is derived from the noun "nickel", which can be traced back to the German word "Kupfernickel". "Kupfernickel" is a compound word composed of "Kupfer" (meaning copper) and "Nickel", the name given to a mischievous mythological creature believed to live in mines in German folklore. "Kupfernickel" initially referred to a mineral compound containing nickel, which resembled copper ore but did not yield any copper. Over time, "nickel" came to represent the chemical element itself, and subsequently, "nickels" became the plural of the denomination of currency in the United States worth five cents, as the coin was made primarily of nickel metal.