SHIELD FIVE CENTS (1866-1883)
Images courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles
Images courtesy of Early American History Auctions
Facts:
The first "Nickel" was minted in 1866 named so because of the metal content and not the denomination. The term Nickel is now synonymous with a coin worth Five Cents.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Designer: James B. Longacre
Diameter: 20.5 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 75%
Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mint mark: None (for Philadelphia)
Cherry Picker's List:
There are so many die varieties of the 5 Cents, Shield Nickel they are too numerous to list here. However, they deserve a brief mention, so look for broken date numerals, double dies, misplaced dates, over dates, and repunched dates; spanning all years 1868-1883.
Below are but a few examples varieties along with the key dates:
1866 Rays
1867 Rays
1869 Tall Date
1870
1871
1872 Triple die obverse
1872 Small date over large date
1876 Triple die obverse
1877 Proof-only date.
1878 Proof-only date
1879 1879/8 over date on Proofs
1879
1880
1883 1883/2 over date on circulation strikes
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