Gary's Type Set
5C SHIELD, WITH RAYS (1866-1867)

Owner Comments:

For a variety of reasons, the silver three-cent piece and the half-dime did not return to circulation after the Civil War. This contributed to a severe shortage of small change coinage. In order to meet the demand for small change and replace the hated fractional currency, nickel miner Joseph Wharton successfully lobbied Congress to begin minting a copper-nickel three, and five-cent piece. Immediately popular with the American public, these new coins more than adequately met the need for small change in commerce. The obverse design of the Shield Nickel is almost identical to that of the two-cent piece with a few exceptions. The first major difference is a cross of uncertain origin appearing above the federal shield. Next, the crossed arrows behind the shield are located at the bottom of the shield in contrast to across the shield on the two-cent piece. Finally, the motto “In God We Trust” around the upper circumference of the Shield Nickel, replaces the banner of the two-cent piece. Minor differences between the Shield Nickel and two-cent piece also appear in the laurel wreath and the ornamental shield. Interestingly, the main proponent of the nickel five-cent piece, nickel miner Joseph Wharton, disapprovingly described this design as, “A tombstone surmounted by a cross and overhung by weeping willows.” The original reverse of 1866 Shield Nickel exhibits the number 5 encircled by thirteen alternating stars and rays. Part way into 1867, the rays were removed due to two unrelated problems. First, there were complaints that rays in between the stars, reminded people of the stars and bars of the confederate flag. Next, the hardness of nickel presented a number of production problems, most notably apparent by the large number of coins displaying evidence of die cracks. Removing the rays improved the strike and extended the life of the dies.