US Shield Nickel 1866 to 1883

Many old time shield nickels carry good value even in average circulated condition. There are some better-date coins commanding higher prices than common dates. This page presents some typical stats. These are catalog values (see our Important Terminology page for an explanation of catalog values) that apply to problem-free coins with decent eye appeal. Coins that are damaged, cleaned, scratched, stained, or otherwise defective are worth about zero.

COMMON DATE COINS - These values are for coins with dates not shown below:
worn: $25 US dollars catalog value
average circulated: $50
well preserved: $80
fully uncirculated: $250

BETTER DATE COINS - The values shown below are for coins in well preserved condition. Coin with significant wear are worth much less:
1866, 1867, 1872, 1874, 1876: $150
1871: $250
1875: $180
1879: $700
1880: $1100
1881: $600

All the values above are inflated catalog values. Use our Important Terminology page to understand what this means relative to actual buy and sell values.

For serious collectors, there are several coins with small nuances that make them more or less valuable. This amount of detail supersedes our CoinQuest venue. For instance, an 1883 coin is a common date at $60 catalog, but an 1883 3 over 2 catalogs at $400 in well preserved condition. For an explanation of 3 over 2, get a coin catalog. Some proof nickes are worth tons of money. Proofs are special coins made especially for collectors. A good coin catalog explains such details. Get one!

Sometimes people polish coins with silver polish. This gives their surfaces a mirror-like appearance, but it also destroys the sharpness of the detail in the strike. If you have a coin with mirror-like surfaces but with impaired detail, it is probably a polished coin and not worth anything.
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