Shield Nickel

About This Series

The Shield nickel was the first five-cent piece struck in copper-nickel alloy, introduced in 1866 after silver disappeared from circulation during the Civil War. James B. Longacre designed it. The original 1866-1867 "With Rays" type has rays between the stars on the reverse; these were dropped starting in 1867 because the design struck poorly. Most dates are available in circulated grades, but the 1879 and 1880 were struck only as proofs, making them genuine rarities among business strike collectors. The series ended in 1883 when the Liberty Head nickel took over.