1868 Shield Nickel Value Guide

Designed by James B. Longacre, the 1868 Shield Nickel is a significant piece of American numismatic history introduced to phase out Civil War-era fractional paper currency. This specific year is highly collectible due to the intricate decorative shield design and the notorious striking difficulties that led to frequent die breakages.

What Is 1868 Shield Nickel Worth?

The typical price range for 1868 Shield Nickel is $10 - $15 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Condition and Grade: While common circulated examples are valued between $10 and $15, higher mint-state grades command significant premiums.
• Die Cracks: Because the hard copper-nickel alloy frequently broke the dies, coins showing specific die crack patterns can be of interest to specialists.
• Surface Preservation: The presence of original luster or the absence of heavy scratches and environmental damage greatly impacts the market price.
• Strike Quality: Due to the difficulty of striking this alloy, examples with sharp, full details in the shield's fine lines are more desirable.

How to Identify 1868 Shield Nickel?

• Verify the composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel, which gives the coin its distinct silver-grey appearance.
• Examine the obverse for the large decorative shield and the date 1868 positioned clearly at the bottom.
• Look for the 'In God We Trust' motto above the shield, which was a relatively new addition to U.S. coinage at the time.
• Check the reverse for a large numeral 5 surrounded by a circle of 13 stars and rays (though rays were being phased out, some 1868 strikes may show die variations).

History of 1868 Shield Nickel

Designed by James B. Longacre, the Shield Nickel was the first United States five-cent coin made of copper-nickel. It was introduced in 1866 to replace the fractional paper currency that was used during the Civil War. The design proved difficult to strike, leading to frequent die breakages and a relatively short production run ending in 1883.