After market finish and barrel job. Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 3rd ed., Supica and Nahas
A Buffalo Nickel stamped on a penny is worth $800.00. A Jefferson Nickel stamped on a ZN penny is worth $70.00. A Jefferson Nickel stamped on a CU penny is worth $60.00.
Nickel plated
Remember Roman numerals? V stands for 5 (as in 5 cents), not victory. What you have is called a Liberty nickel or sometimes a V nickel. There's more information at the question "What is the value of a 1912 US nickel?"
The US Mint did not issue an 1896 nickel with an "S" stamped on it. If you have one then it would seem as though someone stamped the coin sometime after it left the mint. Also please don't assume that because a coin is old it has to be made of silver. All US nickels except special "war nickels" made during 1942-45 are struck in the same alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
Nickel Silver
30 cents; 25 for the quarter part, 5 for the nickel part.
The obverse side of the 2005 Liberty nickel is stamped with a profile of President Jefferson on the left side, the words, "In God We Trust", the handwritten cursive word, "Liberty", and the year, "2005".
Liberty Nickels The picture on the liberty or V nickel is Lady Liberty. See the pictures on eBay by typing in Liberty V nickel.
Nickel is a German variant of the name Nicholas, ultimately Greek in origin meaning "victory of the people".
silver is usually stamped 925
I'm pretty sure it means someone had a set of metal stamps and too much time on his hands.
No they were not not made with a nickel finish. The original finish would have been parkerization. A lot of people bought these after the war for dirt cheap and nickel plated them. But it is not original. Though probably a good shooter anyways.