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Only the 1879 and 1880 have lower mintages than this highly collectible 1881 in which 68,000 coins were minted originally. It is a tougher but accessible issue in all grades up to gem level where the coins become quite scarce. This date is known to have high-quality surfaces and pleasing eye appeal that, along with its scarcity, makes it very desirable.
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 1881 Shield nickel is remarkable for its scarcity as a circulation strike. Such pieces are so elusive that for many years most collectors have simply opted to acquire the readily available Proofs. It has also been a popular sport to classify Proofs as “Mint State,” as the latter bring more money. The exact same thing is true for many of the dates in the nickel three-cent series of this decade. Before you pay a sharp premium for a coin described as Mint State, have an expert check it for you, although even the best of scholars are sometimes uncertain as to the attribution.
CIRCULATION STRIKES:
Characteristics and Appearance: Pieces offered as circulation strikes tend to closely resemble Proofs, which indeed they may really be. One die that was used to make circulation strikes (traces of repunching near the rim, below the date) is not known to have made Proofs; buying one of these might be insurance if you want a true circulation strike—but keep in mind that as research goes on, accepted “facts” are often discarded. As a prime example, many comments made years ago in Walter Breen’s Complete Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Coins are now viewed as incorrect.
Mint records indicate that in January 1882, for circulation-strike nickels of 1881, seven obverse and nine reverse dies were destroyed.36
Mintage and Distribution Notes: On November 12, 1881, the Treasury Department’s holdings of nickel five-cent pieces reached a low point, and the secretary directed that production in quantity recommence. By that time, many silver coins had been absorbed, and most of the once-competitive silver half dimes had been redeemed and melted.
Absent this call in November, it is likely that there would have been a nominal coinage of circulation strikes, following the path of the 16,000 made for 1880. John Dannreuther notes that years ago a Mint State 1881 nickel was a great rarity, but that in the late 20th century Norm Pullen, a professional numismatist from Maine, came across a remarkable cache of about 50 pieces, all very choice.37
PROOF STRIKES:
Characteristics and Appearance: Some have slight weakness in the horizontal shield stripes (not that most people would notice). Proofs are typically made from an overpolished obverse die, causing the stem on the highest inside berry at right to be incomplete. A deep mirror surface is the rule, although sometimes, there is a grainy non-Proof surface on the reverse near the 5 on various dates of the era. The same characteristic can be observed on certain Proof $3 gold coins of this time.
Peters and Mohon, drawing from Breen, state that one die (of two that were made) was used to make Proofs this year. The outline of the ball is incomplete near the first 8, among other characteristics. However, this die may have been used to make circulation strikes as well. Mint records indicate that in January 1882, for Proof nickels of 1881, two obverse and two reverse dies were destroyed.38
Catalog Information
GSID:
2884
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
IN GOD WE TRUST, 1881
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:
1881
Denomination:
5c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
68,800
Coinage Type:
Shield nickel
Coinage Years:
1867-1883
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
PCGS #:
3811
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Body: Referring page: http://dev.greysheet.com/prices/item/1881-5c-shield-nickel/gsid/2884 GSID: 2884 Title: 1881 5c MS
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Coin Value History
1881 5c MS
Value By Grade
1881 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS67 |
|
$8,250 | $1,234 |
| MS67 | - | $7,000 | $1,234 |
| MS66 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $1,234 | $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
1870 5c MS
Worth: $15 – $2,200
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
1881 5C Fine 15 PCGS. PCGS Population: 16 in 15, 322 finer (12/25). CDN: $380 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Fine 15. Mintage 68,8...
$415
1881 5C MS65 PCGS. ...
$3,294
1881 5C Good 6 PCGS. PCGS Population: 13 in 6, 384 finer (11/25). CDN: $235 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Good 6 . Mintage 68,800...
$293
1881 5C AU58 PCGS. PCGS Population: 19 in 58, 150 finer (11/25). CDN: $850 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. Mintage 68,800. ...
$915
1881 5C VG8 NGC. NGC Census: 10 in 8, 175 finer (11/25). CDN: $300 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VG8 . Mintage 68,800. ...
$324
1881 5C VF20 PCGS. PCGS Population: (12/304). Mintage 68,800. ...
$456
1881 5C XF40 NGC. CAC. CAC Population: (4/44). Mintage 68,800. ...
$630
1881 5C MS61 NGC....
$1,500
1881 5C AU55 ANACS. Mintage 68,800. ...
$690
1881 5C MS66 PCGS....
$4,320
1881 5c NGC AG-03
$235
1881 5C VF25 NGC. NGC Census: (7/138). PCGS Population: (10/285). CDN: $420 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF25. Mintage 68,800. ...
$456
1881 5C VF35 NGC. NGC Census: (4/128). PCGS Population: (13/252). CDN: $465 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF35. Mintage 68,800. ...
$516
1881 5C Fine 12 PCGS. PCGS Population: (8/320 and 0/6+). NGC Census: (6/156 and 0/0+). CDN: $360 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Fi...
$360
1881 5C Good 4 PCGS. PCGS Population: (13/372). NGC Census: (9/178). CDN: $230 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Good 4 . Mintage 68,...
$216
1881 5C AU53 NGC. NGC Census: (5/106). PCGS Population: (14/170). CDN: $675 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 68,800. ...
$690
1881 5C -- Improperly Cleaned -- NCS. Unc Details. Mintage 68,800. ...
$810
1881 5C XF45 PCGS. PCGS Population: (27/198). NGC Census: (8/114). CDN: $530 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 68,800. ...
$576
1881 5C MS62 PCGS. PCGS Population: (16/117). NGC Census: (9/66). CDN: $1,100 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS62. Mintage 68,800....
$1,380
5C 1881 PCGS MS67
$6,169
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