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This date is the first from the Shield Nickel Series to boast a mintage under 8-figures making it scarcer than the1860’s issues yet still very common. Easily accessible in all grades until the gem level at which point the gems are slightly scarce. This issue is known to have die cracks and stars that appear repunched but are not because the initial strikes were just so strong.
Obverse Description
A shield flanked on the left and right by leaves topped with a cross with arrows positioned behind at the bottom so the arrow heads and shanks protrude at the sides. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears at the top periphery with the date positioned at the bottom center.
Reverse Description
A large numeral 5 surrounded by 13 stars centered in the design with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * CENTS around the periphery.
Book Reference
Key to Collecting: The 1870 Shield nickel is fairly scarce in all grades. When Mint State coins are found, they are apt to be less than MS-65. Gems with sharp details and good eye appeal are in the minority. Proofs have a problem with quality, too, and some searching is needed to find a nice one.
CIRCULATION STRIKES:
Characteristics and Appearance: Striking is about the same as found with 1869— better than for previous years, but still usually seen with some weakness on the horizontal shield lines and star centers.
PROOF STRIKES:
Characteristics and Appearance: Regular Shield nickel Proof dies of the year, but usually seen with the reverse so highly polished that some of the details of the letters— such as sections from the tops of D, S, S, F, and R in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and the bottom of the S in CENTS—are removed. This die was also used on certain patterns. However, some Proofs are from a perfect die without broken letters. Proofs can vary in quality, with flaky or imperfect planchets.
Detail of Proof die showing the D in UNITED
and the S in STATES broken at the top.
VARIETIES:
Doubled-Die Obverse—If there is a numismatic equiva-lent to the Guide Michelin, it is the Fivaz-Stanton Cherry-pickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties. The authors rate the Interest Factor to determine whether a variety is (to continue the analogy) worth a special trip—this being five stars (points). Then come four stars, perhaps worth a detour. Three-star varieties are mainly of interest to specialists, who are not in the mainstream of the hobby. Two-star varieties seem to be scarcely worthy of notice, but can be interesting. As to one-star varieties, they are not listed. For 1870, Fivaz-Stanton have four 5-star attractions, including FS-103, F-03, which combines a doubled-die obverse (most noticeable on the annulet below the cross) and a slightly repunched date. It is rated as URS-4, meaning an estimated population of 5 to 8 pieces. The Shield Nickel Viewer, by Howard Spindel, adds this:
There are three doubled die reverses for 1870 that are extraordinarily interesting because they combine different hub designs. The FS-05-005.9 [FS-801] is Reverse Style F hubbed over a Reverse Style D. Even more interesting, there are two different doubled-die reverses showing a Reverse Style D hubbed over a Reverse Style F, giving the appearance of an 1870 with a Reverse Style D. Reference books say only that 1870 Reverse Style D is “rumored to exist.” Both of the latter varieties are documented in the Shield Nickel Viewer (but nowhere else). The FS-05-005.9 [FS-801] is more available than the other two doubled-die reverses.
Clashed Die—FS-301, F-15, Flynn-MPD-001 (as it also has a misplaced date), with the comment that three or four are known, including one in Mint State. An interesting and rare 1870 Shield nickel was discovered by Ken Hill in 1994. In my 1996 book, A Buyer’s and Enthu-siast’s Guide to Flying Eagle and Indian Cents, I gave some notice to it and added an illustration. In April 1996, I learned that only one other had come to light since 1994, an example in the inventory of Larry Briggs. Today, the variety remains extremely rare. In 2005, one surfaced on eBay.8 Ken Hill recently added this: “I have attributed an Abt. G-3 coin, have seen a VF, and have heard from Michael Fey that he found an AU-58.”9 The obverse shows clash-mark impressions of the obverse of an Indian cent die. The face and headdress of Liberty appear clearly and in an inverted position in the background areas between the shield stripes on the nickel. The Indian cent obverse die was in the hammer (or top, movable) part of the setup in the coining press, while the obverse for the Shield nickel was in the anvil (or stake, immobile) position at the bottom.10 This clashing was probably inadvertent and was caused by mismatched dies in the press during the press setup process (much in the manner that the famous 1857 clashed-die Flying Eagle cents were created).
On the other hand, Thomas K. DeLorey, who has studied two-denomination clashed dies in various series, noted, “I believe that all of the dual-denomination clash mark varieties were deliberate mulings to create novelties.”11 On this 1870 nickel, the 1 in 1870 is lightly quadruple-punched.12 URS-2.
Repunched Date, Misplaced Date—Known as FS-302, Fletcher-01, and FlynnMPD-001, this misplaced date shows the top of a 0 in the denticles below and to the left of the regular 0 in 1870. Although opinions differ, I believe that most misplaced dates were made by using a numeral punch (not necessarily the one used for the full date) and making a tiny, “test” tap with it, in an unobtrusive spot, to determine the hardness of the die.
Doubled-Die Reverse—The reverse of this variety (FS-801, F-14) was first punched by a master die for the normal reverse, then overpunched with a master die for the Reverse of 1868. The illustration shows the star pointing to the M in AMERICA and the rays from each style. This is a very important variety from a technical viewpoint, but few collectors are aware of it.
Catalog Information
GSID:
2873
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
IN GOD WE TRUST, 1870
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
5, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CENTS
Weight (gr):
5 gr
Weight (oz):
0.1608 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
20.5
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Coin Date:
1870
Denomination:
5c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
4,806,000
Coinage Type:
Shield nickel
Coinage Years:
1867-1883
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
PCGS #:
3797
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Body: Referring page: http://dev.greysheet.com/prices/item/1870-5c-shield-nickel/gsid/2873 GSID: 2873 Title: 1870 5c MS
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Coin Value History
1870 5c MS
Value By Grade
1870 5c MS
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS66 |
|
$2,750 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $2,200 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Shield Nickel 5c Rays, 1866-1867 MS [Type]
![Shield Nickel 5c Rays, 1866-1867 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/raysMS.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $15 – $36,000
1866 5c Rays MS
Worth: $15 – $36,000
1866/1866 5c Rays, Repunched Date MS
Worth: $150 – $14,400
1867 5c Rays MS
Worth: $17 – $36,000
Shield Nickel 5c No Rays, 1867-1883 MS [Type]
![Shield Nickel 5c No Rays, 1867-1883 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/noRaysMS.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $13 – $2,592
1867 5c No Rays MS
Worth: $13 – $10,800
1868 5c MS
Worth: $13 – $9,600
1869 5c MS
Worth: $13 – $6,000
1871 5c MS
Worth: $45 – $12,600
1872 5c MS
Worth: $25 – $12,600
1873 5c Closed 3 MS
Worth: $30 – $4,800
1873 5c Open 3 MS
Worth: $18 – $3,250
1873 5c Large/Small 3, Open 3, FS-1301 MS
Worth: $6,000 – $19,000
1873 5c Doubled Die Obverse MS
Worth: $70 – $3,000
1874 5c MS
Worth: $19 – $2,640
1870 5C AU55 PCGS. PCGS Population: 27 in 55, 340 finer (12/25). CDN: $140 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 4,806,000....
$183
1870 5C MS62 PCGS. PCGS Population: 25 in 62, 276 finer (10/25). CDN: $275 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS62. Mintage 4,806,000....
$324
1870 5C MS64 PCGS. Housed in a Generation 3.1 green label holder. PCGS Population: (99/63). NGC Census: (68/46). CDN: $550 ...
$630
1870 5C Shield, Doubled Die Reverse, FS-802, XF45 ANACS. FS-005.9. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 4,806,000....
$300
1870 5C MS65 PCGS. CAC. CAC Population: (22/10). Mintage 4,806,000. ...
$1,320
1870 5C MS63 PCGS. PCGS Population: (59/162). Mintage 4,806,000. ...
$372
1870 5C Repunched Date, FS-301, AU50 PCGS. (005.77). PCGS Population: (1/3). NGC Census: (0/1). AU50. Mintage 4,806,000....
$564
1870 5C MS66+ NGC....
$4,800
1870 5C XF40 PCGS. PCGS Population: (20/348 and 0/17+). NGC Census: (4/241 and 0/4+). CDN: $80 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF40...
$77
1870 5C AU58 PCGS. CAC. PCGS Population: (25/250). NGC Census: (18/185). CDN: $160 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. Mintage 4,...
$228
1870 5c PCGS VF30 (RPD FS-301)
$310
1870 5C AU53 PCGS. PCGS Population: (10/290). NGC Census: (6/207). CDN: $130 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 4,806,00...
$119
1870 5C Shield Nickel -- Obverse Half of Spilt Planchet -- AG3 NGC. (2.1 grams). From the Don Bonser Error Coin Co...
$74
1870 5C Double Die Obverse VF35 ANACS. FS-005.7. Mintage 4,806,000....
$252
1870 5C MS61 NGC. NGC Census: (10/164). PCGS Population: (4/237). CDN: $210 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS61. Mintage 4,806,000...
$264
1870 5c PCGS VG-08
$51
1870 5C Doubled Die Reverse, FS-801, Fine 12 PCGS. (FS-005.9). PCGS Population: (1/13). NGC Census: (0/7). Fine 12. Mintage...
$174
1870 5C Repunched Date, Clash with Indian Cent, FS-301, VF20 PCGS. (FS-005.77). PCGS Population (1/2). NGC Census: (0/0). M...
$646
1870 5C Doubled Die Obverse, FS-101 Good 4 PCGS. PCGS Population (0/0). NGC Census: (0/0). From The Parcfeld Collection....
$44
1870 5C VF25 PCGS PCGS Population (1/244). NGC Census: (2/187). Mintage: 4,806,000. Numismedia Wsl. Price for problem free ...
$56
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