Question: what are dimes and nickels made of?
Answer: Modern Nickels are actually mostly Copper - they're made of an alloy (mixture) of 25% Nickel metal, and 75% Copper. Modern Quarters and Dimes (and half-dollars) are made of a Copper core with Nickel plating on the outside - think of it as a sandwich where Nickel metal is the “bread”, and Copper metal as the filling.