No More Mitzvah of Hashavas Aveidah on a Nickel

For decades, the value of a prutah – the minimum halachic monetary unit – has hovered at approximately two or three cents. This meant that virtually any coin in circulation other than a penny, including the humble nickel, was halachically significant enough to trigger the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah, the obligation to return a lost object. However, with the unprecedented surge in silver prices, we have crossed a historic threshold. As of this writing, the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah no longer applies to a found nickel.

The Calculation: How a Prutah is Determined

The Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 88:1) rules that a prutah is equal to half a grain of pure silver. Based on the calculations of the poskim, this translates to 1/1244th of a troy ounce of silver. To determine the current value of a prutah, one simply takes the spot price of a troy ounce of silver and divides it by 1244.

As of January 26, 2026, the current spot price of silver is approximately $109.76 per troy ounce. Silver has experienced an extraordinary rally, having risen from approximately $29 per ounce at the start of 2025 to over $100 per ounce today – an increase of nearly 280%.

Applying the formula: $109.76 ÷ 1244 = $0.0882 (8.82 cents)

This means that a prutah is now worth nearly nine cents. A nickel, worth only five cents, is therefore less than a shaveh prutah and does not trigger the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah. However, a dime, worth ten cents, still exceeds the value of a prutah and remains subject to the mitzvah.

When Did This Threshold Get Crossed?

For a nickel to lose its halachic significance, silver would need to reach a price where 1/1244th of a troy ounce exceeds $0.05. The calculation is simple: $0.05 × 1244 = $62.20. When silver crossed $62.20 per troy ounce, the prutah officially exceeded the value of a nickel.

This historic moment occurred on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at approximately 8:15 a.m. Eastern Time, when silver was trading at $62.30 per troy ounce. By that afternoon, silver had surged further, touching an intraday high of $64.21 per ounce. Since that date, silver has continued its meteoric rise, and the gap between the prutah value and a nickel has only widened.

Hashavas Aveidah: The Halachic Fundamentals

Now that we understand the new monetary reality, let us review the essential halachos of hashavas aveidah:

1. The Minimum Value Requirement. For the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah to apply, the item must be worth at least a prutah (CM 262:1). If it is worth less than a prutah to the finder, but more to the one who lost it, such as a driver’s license, there is still a mitzvah. Rav Elyashiv zt”l ruled that most people view a pen as nearly worthless, and therefore, pens are considered less than a shaveh prutah and there is no need to be machriz and announce that it was found (Kuntrus HaShavas Aveidah p.31).
2. The Severity of Violation. If you find a lost object which qualifies for hashavas aveidah and keep it, you violate three Torah mitzvos – two negative commandments and one positive one. If you simply ignore your obligation to return something, you violate one negative mitzvah.
3. The Obligation to Announce. Lost objects need to be announced. Nowadays, poskim have ruled that an advertisement in the paper also qualifies as an announcement (See Chavatzeles HaSharon CM #28).
4. Who is Obligated? Men and women are equally obligated in this mitzvah, but older people are exempt if returning the item would be embarrassing for them.
5. Abandoned Objects. Objects that are clearly abandoned, such as something found lying in the street, do not have to be returned.
6. Items Found in Stores. Items without identifying marks found in a store belong to the finder, unless it is a section of the store exclusive to the owners. The reason the storeowner’s property does not acquire it for him is because it is not a watched property – a chatzer hamishtameres (SA CM 260:5).
7. Vending Machine Change. Money found in a vending machine change slot belongs to the finder (ruling of Rav Azriel Auerbach cited in Kuntrus Hashavas Aveidah p. 30).
8. Yei’ush – Loss of Hope. The mitzvah of hashavas aveidah applies only as long as the owner did not give up hope of finding the item. Giving up hope is called yei’ush. The owner gives up ownership at the point of yei’ush. If, however, you found the item before the owner gave up hope, then there is an obligation to return it (CM 262:3). There is a debate in the Rishonim as to why this is so. Tosfos (BK 66a) understands that the obligation of returning the item has already kicked in and must still be fulfilled even if there is loss of hope. The Ramban (BK 26b), on the other hand, explains that the picking up of the lost item renders the finder a guardian over the item.
9. Simanim – Identifying Marks. There is a concept in halacha that a person is always checking his pockets. Therefore, if the item is very important and had no identifiable marks, we can assume that he gave up hope. What are considered identifying marks (simanim in halacha)? (A) Unique marks found on the object itself. (B) If the owner identifies where the object was lost and it is rare to lose such items there (CM 262:9). (C) If the owner identifies how the object was packaged (CM 262:35). (D) If the owner identifies how many of the item was lost (CM 262:3). (E) If the owner identifies the specific weight or size of the object. Money, however, is not considered to have identifying marks (CM 262:3).
10. Heavy or Large Items. Likewise, we can assume that an owner gave up hope on a very heavy item or a large item when there are no simanim – identifiable marks. Likewise, if it was lost in flowing river waters, we can assume that the owner lost hope in recovering it (CM 259).
11. Kiddush Hashem and Chillul Hashem. It is proper to return all lost items in order to make a kiddush Hashem – to sanctify Hashem’s Name. There is a full-fledged obligation to return items that one is technically exempt from returning if not doing so may possibly result in a chillul Hashem (CM 266:1). Thus, all bank errors must be returned as soon as possible.

Conclusion

The dramatic rise in silver prices has created a new halachic reality. While it may seem strange that a nickel no longer carries the same halachic weight it once did, this is a natural consequence of our monetary system and the fluctuating value of precious metals. Of course, one should always strive to return lost items l’fnim mishuras hadin, beyond the letter of the law, and certainly to avoid any possibility of chillul Hashem. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of the technical halachic parameters, as they affect many areas of monetary law beyond hashavas aveidah, including kinyanim, kiddushin, and damages.

May we all merit to fulfill the mitzvos of the Torah with understanding and precision, and may our careful observance of bein adam l’chaveiro bring about a kiddush Hashem.

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The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com

Note: Silver prices fluctuate constantly. Readers are encouraged to check current silver prices when making halachic determinations. As of this writing (January 26, 2026), with silver at approximately $109.76 per troy ounce, a prutah equals approximately 8.82 cents.

 https://vinnews.com/2026/01/26/no-more-mitzvah-of-hashavas-aveidah-on-a-nickel/