Shield Nickel 5c No Rays, 1867-1883 PR DCAM [Type]

Designer: James B. Longacre. Weight: 5 grams. Composition: .750 copper, .250 nickel. Diameter: 20.5 mm. Edge: Plain. Mint: Philadelphia.

Key to Collecting: In early 1867, the Shield nickel motif was revised by eliminating the rays between the stars on the reverse. Afterward, the striking quality improved, as Mint officials hoped it would. However, the hard nickel-copper alloy was difficult to work with, and today it is a numismatic challenge to acquire choice pieces. Enough coins were made in circulation strike and Proof format that finding one will be no problem. However, it is important to keep an eye open for quality. Mint State coins are plentiful, especially of the last two dates in the series, 1882 and 1883.

Aspects of Striking and Appearance: The striking is generally much better than on the 1866 and 1867 With Rays style. Striking quality and aesthetic appeal are generally better for the later-dated coins. Issues of the 1860’s and 1870’s require special care to find quality pieces. Points to check include the horizontal shield lines and the star details. Die cracks are common among earlier dates and are sometimes a virtual network of tiny connecting lines—interesting to observe.

Proof Coins: Proofs of 1867 to 1876 are apt to vary in quality, and cherrypicking is advised. The 1877 and 1878 dates were made only in Proof format, the 1878 having a frosty surface not much different from a circulation strike in appearance. Proofs of the 1879 to 1883 years are generally of higher quality, with more mirrorlike fields and sharper details than found on earlier issues.