Shield Nickel Key Dates: Rare Years, Mint Varieties and Collector Values

Shield Nickel key dates including the rare 1878, 1877, 1866 No Rays and 1867 Rays nickel coins

The Shield Nickel was America’s first five-cent coin struck in a copper-nickel alloy, replacing the small silver half dime beginning in 1866. Although the series lasted only until 1883, it presents collectors with a fascinating mix of low-mintage dates, major die varieties, production challenges, and several genuinely scarce issues. While millions were produced overall, not … Read more