Design and Specifications of the Shield Nickel

The Shield Nickel was introduced in 1866 as a replacement for the silver half dime. It was the first five-cent coin to be made of a copper-nickel alloy, which gave rise to the term ‘nickel’ for the denomination. The design was intended to symbolize strength and unity following the Civil War.
Weight 5 grams
Diameter 20.5 mm
Mint Marks None (all minted in Philadelphia)
Composition 75% copper, 25% nickel
Obverse Design A shield with a wreath and stars, designed by James B. Longacre
Reverse Design A wreath surrounding the denomination, designed by James B. Longacre
Years of Minting 1866-1883

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Shield Nickels greatly impacts their value, with uncirculated specimens commanding significant premiums. The 1873 ‘Closed 3’ variety and the 1870 ‘Doubled Die Obverse’ are notable errors that can increase a coin’s rarity and value substantially.
1880 16,000 minted; one of the rarest dates in the series
1881 68,800 minted; another key date
1866 Rays 15,210,000 minted; scarce in high grades
1877 Proof 510 minted; highly sought after by collectors
1867 No Rays 28,890,000 minted; key date due to design change

Explore Shield Nickel Values by Year

1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883

Most Valuable Shield Nickel

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1866 Nickel Rays (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $475.00 –
1867 Nickel Rays (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $650.00 –
1869 Nickel (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $190.00 –
1880 Nickel (Regular Strike) $2,000.00 – $16,000.00 –
1882 Nickel (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $190.00 –
1867 Nickel No Rays (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $190.00 –
1868 Nickel (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $190.00 –
1867 Nickel Rays (Proof) – $30,000.00 – $75,000.00
1883 Nickel Shield (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $190.00 –
1872 Nickel (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $260.00 –
1876 Nickel (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $375.00 –
1870 Nickel (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $325.00 –
1868 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $700.00 – $5,500.00
1873 Nickel Open 3 (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $350.00 –
1880 Nickel (Proof) $80.00 – $325.00 –
1881 Nickel (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $1,250.00 –
1883/2 Nickel Shield (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $2,250.00 –
1882 Nickel (Proof) $250.00 – $300.00 –
1877 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $4,000.00 – $25,000.00
1875 Nickel (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $425.00 –
1867 Nickel Rays, CAM (Proof) – $45,000.00 – $75,000.00
1869 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $600.00 – $12,500.00
1867 Nickel No Rays – Pattern Rev (Proof) – $10,000.00 – $22,500.00
1869 Nickel (Proof) $300.00 – $325.00 –
1877 Nickel (Proof) $1,900.00 – $2,950.00 –
1883 Nickel Shield (Proof) $200.00 – $300.00 –
1873 Nickel Closed 3 (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $550.00 –
1874 Nickel (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $300.00 –
1870 Nickel (Proof) $250.00 – $325.00 –
1876 Nickel (Proof) $300.00 – $325.00 –
1883/2 Nickel Overdate FS-302 (Regular Strike) $200.00 – $2,050.00 –
1866 Nickel Rays (Proof) $750.00 – $1,400.00 –
1879 Nickel (Regular Strike) $500.00 – $2,850.00 –
1874 Nickel (Proof) – $500.00 – $6,500.00
1875 Nickel (Proof) – $350.00 – $25,000.00
1871 Nickel (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $750.00 –
1867 Nickel No Rays (Proof) $300.00 – $350.00 –
1868 Nickel (Proof) $300.00 – $325.00 –
1871 Nickel (Proof) $275.00 – $325.00 –
1872 Nickel (Proof) $250.00 – $325.00 –
1873 Nickel Closed 3 (Proof) $275.00 – $325.00 –
1878 Nickel (Proof) $1,100.00 – $1,175.00 –
1879 Nickel (Proof) $140.00 – $325.00 –
1879/8 Nickel (Proof) $50.00 – $475.00 –
1881 Nickel (Proof) $75.00 – $300.00 –
1866 Nickel Rays DDO FS-102 (001.5) (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $370.00 –
1866/1866 Nickel Rays RPD FS-303 (001.2) (Regular Strike) $750.00 – $3,000.00 –
1867 Rays Nickel RPD FS-301 (Regular Strike) $3,500.00 – $4,500.00 –
1867 Rays Nickel DDO & RPD FS-302 (002.4) (Regular Strike) – $1,750.00
1867/1867 Nickel No Rays RPD FS-1301 (Regular Strike) $750.00 – $1,500.00 –
1867 Nickel No Rays DDO & RPD FS-1102 (Regular Strike) $450.00 –
1867 Nickel No Rays RPD FS-1308 (Regular Strike) $300.00 – $375.00 –
1868 Nickel Rev of 1868 FS-906 (Regular Strike) $125.00 – $450.00 –
1868 Nickel Rev of 1868, FS-901 (Regular Strike) $150.00 – $300.00 –
1868 Nickel Rev of 1868 FS-902 (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $250.00 –
1868 Nickel Rev of 1868 FS-903 (Regular Strike) $300.00 –
1868 Nickel Rev of 1868 FS-904 (Regular Strike) $110.00 – $300.00 –
1868 Nickel RPD FS-303 (Regular Strike) – $2,500.00
1868 Nickel RPD FS-307 (Regular Strike) – $450.00
1868 Nickel RPD FS-309 (Regular Strike) $175.00 – $210.00 –
1868 Nickel DDO FS-104 (Regular Strike) $125.00 –
1869 Nickel Narrow Dt FS-301 (Regular Strike) $90.00 –
1869 Nickel RPD FS-1305 (Regular Strike) $125.00 – $275.00 –
1870 Nickel DDO & RPD FS-101 (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $175.00 –
1870 Nickel DDO FS-102 (Regular Strike) – $2,250.00
1870 Nickel RPD FS-301 (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $1,700.00 –
1870 Nickel DDR FS-801 (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $1,100.00 –
1871 Nickel RPD FS-301 (Regular Strike) – $1,250.00
1872 Nickel DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $410.00 –
1872 Nickel DDO FS-102 (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $225.00 –
1872 Nickel RPD FS-305 (Regular Strike) – $1,100.00
1873 Nickel Open 3 DDO FS-1103 (Regular Strike) – $4,500.00
1873 Nickel Open 3 DDO FS-1102 (Regular Strike) $350.00 –
1873 Nickel Closed 3, DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) $235.00 – $600.00 –
1873 Nickel Cl 3 DDO FS-102 (Regular Strike) $600.00 – $1,850.00 –
1873 Nickel Cl 3 DDO FS-103 (Regular Strike) $225.00 – $700.00 –
1874 Nickel DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) $185.00 – $285.00 –
1875 Nickel DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) – $900.00 – $1,500.00
1875 Nickel DDO & RPD FS-103 (Regular Strike) – $3,750.00
1876 Nickel TDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) – $2,250.00
1876 Nickel The Bleeder FS-401 (Regular Strike) $1,500.00 – $1,750.00 –
1883 Nickel RPD FS-311 Shield (Regular Strike) – $500.00
1883 Nickel RPD FS-312 (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $350.00 –
1883/2 Nickel Overdate FS-303 (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $1,475.00 –
1883/2 Nickel Overdate FS-304 (Regular Strike) $900.00 –
1883 Nickel Shield – Overdate FS-305 (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $700.00 –
1883/2 Nickel Overdate FS-301 (Regular Strike) $200.00 – $1,850.00 –
1866 Nickel Rays, CAM (Proof) – $1,800.00 – $18,500.00
1866 Nickel Rays, DCAM (Proof) – $12,500.00 – $45,000.00
1867 Nickel No Rays, CAM (Proof) – $850.00 – $8,000.00
1867 Nickel No Rays, DCAM (Proof) – $3,250.00 – $45,000.00
1868 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $12,500.00
1870 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $500.00 – $12,500.00
1871 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $600.00 – $10,000.00
1871 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $8,000.00 – $12,500.00
1872 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $700.00 – $22,500.00
1873 Nickel Closed 3, CAM (Proof) – $600.00 – $20,000.00
1874 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $850.00 – $12,500.00
1874 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $7,500.00
1875 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $750.00 – $9,000.00
1876 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $600.00 – $7,500.00
1876 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $3,500.00 – $20,000.00
1877 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $6,500.00 – $20,000.00
1878 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $1,400.00 – $12,500.00
1878 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $5,500.00 – $22,500.00
1879 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $1,000.00 – $22,500.00
1879 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $10,000.00
1879/8 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $850.00 – $12,500.00
1880 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $25,000.00
1880 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $1,500.00 – $25,000.00
1881 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $550.00 – $25,000.00
1881 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $3,500.00 – $10,000.00
1882 Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $550.00 – $25,000.00
1882 Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $2,500.00 – $25,000.00
1883 Nickel Shield, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $25,000.00
1867 Nickel No Rays – Pattern Rev, CAM (Proof) – $7,500.00 – $25,000.00

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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