In 1960, a nickel was more than just a piece of candy. It was real spending money. With five cents, many items could be purchased, making today’s prices seem ridiculous. Let’s take a walk down memory lane to see how far that small coin could take you.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. A Phone Call from Any Pay Phone
- 2 2. A Full-Size Candy Bar
- 3 3. A Glass of Coca-Cola
- 4 4. A First-Class Postage Stamp
- 5 5. A Newspaper
- 6 6. Public Transportation
- 7 7. A Pack of Baseball Cards
- 8 8. Coffee at a Diner
- 9 9. An Ice Cream Cone
- 10 10. A Comic Book
- 11 11. A Bag of Fresh Popcorn
- 12 12. A Game of Pinball
- 13 13. A School Notebook
- 14 14. A Pack of Gum
1. A Phone Call from Any Pay Phone
At any pay phone in America, a local call only cost a nickel. These strong phone booths were located at street corners, gas stations, and drug stores. You could even take a five-minute conversation without worrying about extra charges. Phone booths also protected you from the rain while you chatted.
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2. A Full-Size Candy Bar
Hershey and Snickers candy bars also only cost five cents. They weren’t “fun size” either, they were full-sized bars that seemed bigger than today’s versions. The chocolate was just as good and the wrappers were simpler.
3. A Glass of Coca-Cola
A glass of Coca-Cola only cost a nickel at many soda fountains and drug stores. The serving was generous and free refills were provided.
4. A First-Class Postage Stamp
Mailing a letter anywhere in the United States also cost just five cents. The stamps were beautifully printed. Service in the United States was reliable and fast. If you dropped a letter in the mailbox on Monday, it would arrive across the country by Wednesday or Thursday.
5. A Newspaper
When you subscribe to a newspaper, you are guaranteed a large quantity of local, national, and international news, along with stories and ads. The comics sections are sometimes in color and magazines can be included. They used to offer a Sunday edition too, but all of that is free.
6. Public Transportation
When bus or streetcar transfers are free, and your driver takes care of the change, they are easy to reach and cross. They are above average in maintenance, and their routes are frequent.
7. A Pack of Baseball Cards
Baseball trading cards came with a stick of gum and cost a nickel. Each pack came with several cards of major leaguers and complete with a full color, high quality photo, stats, and cardboard.
8. Coffee at a Diner
Diners featured 5¢ coffee and then conducted the free refill. The cups were ceramic and thick. The coffee is claimed to be the best and regulars know the staff by name.
9. An Ice Cream Cone
Seasonal flavors were offered along with rotating specials. A mix of real ingredients can be found in generous portions with real ice cream.
10. A Comic Book
The quality and color paper offered with real comics is of Batman and Superman. Each of the issues cost a nickel.
11. A Bag of Fresh Popcorn
Street vendors and shops sold big bags of fresh popcorn for a nickel. The popcorn was usually made with real butter and properly salted. Many drug stores and five and dime stores had their own popcorn machines right at the entrance.
12. A Game of Pinball
For five cents, you could play a game on most pinball machines. These weren’t digital games, but mechanical marvels with real steel balls and scoring systems that were quite sophisticated. A good player could get a lot out of that nickel.
13. A School Notebook
Notebooks and other basic school supplies also cost just five cents. These papers were not flimsy, and the covers were firm and of good quality. Many had useful information on the back like multiplication tables.
14. A Pack of Gum
You could get a whole pack of gum – not just a single stick – for five cents. Long lasting flavors were offered by Wrigley’s, Dentyne, and Beeman’s, whose packs were beautifully designed and became collectibles themselves.
