With the economy in a spiral, people are looking for a safe place to invest their money. Some are turning to cryptocurrency; others are looking at gold. However, some online have found a new investment that they’re sure is going to give their bank balance an extra comma: nickels.

Now, to most people, a nickel is just a 5-cent coin. But to users online, they’re nothing more than a combination of 25% nickel and 75% copper. Melt these two things down, and you’ll get a metal value higher than 5 cents.

“They are literally telling you they're going to spend trillions of dollars by the end of the decade building data centers. What's the #1 ingredient in a data center? COPPER. Instead of speculating on AI stocks, acquire thousands of tons of US nickels,” reads one post.

They are literally telling you they're going to spend trillions of dollars by the end of the decade building data centers.

What's the #1 ingredient in a data center? COPPER.

Instead of speculating on AI stocks, acquire thousands of tons of US nickels.

MAKE THEM PAY YOU pic.twitter.com/VSOureQqN2

— ‍☠️ (@calvinfroedge) October 19, 2025

“Minimum wage in 1964 was $1.15. Equivalent to 4 silver quarters, 1 silver dime, and a nickel. Those 6 coins are worth around $29 today. Minimum wage is $7.25 today. Now you know why monetary debasement has been so destructive to the working class.  Nickels are your life raft,” reads another.

To be clear, much of this discussion is a joke. That said, given that the price of the metals in a nickel *really are* worth more than a nickel, some people really do seem to be considering it, and others are actually looking into whether this really is as good of a store of value as nickel-fanatics claim.

The answer is “no.” Legally, you cannot melt down nickels and sell the metals, and you also can’t export them to melt.

So, stick your money in a bank account. I know, it’s boring, but it works.

Incredible things happening on x dot com pic.twitter.com/gUyBWDHu5M

— Mason (@webdevMason) October 20, 2025