The base - metal nickel was not widely accepted in the far West , the silver half dime had been struck in increasing numbers at the San Francisco Mint until the silver coin .
Which did not circulate in the East , was abolished by Congress in 1873 .
Although the base - metal nickel was not widely accepted in the far West , the silver half dime had been struck in increasing numbers at the San Francisco Mint until the silver coin , which did not circulate in the East , was abolished by Congress in 1873 .