Monomoy
5C SHIELD, WITH RAYS (1866-1867)
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
FIVE-CENT PIECES - SHIELD |
| Item Description: |
5C 1866 RAYS |
| Full Grade: |
NGC MS 65 |
| Owner: |
CC Angler |
Owner Comments:
1866 5C with Rays NGC MS65. NGC Census: (177/27). PCGS Population: (171/53).
Designer: James B Longacre
Mint: Philadelphia
Montage 14,742,500
In 1866, the U.S. government introduced a new 5 Cent piece made of nickel as an alternative for the silver Half Dime. The new metal, because it was so hard, made it difficult to strike the coins, and the dies suffered frequent cracking. Part of the problem was the intricate reverse, where stars were squeezed tightly between small rays surrounding the large "5". Ultimately, the rays were removed from the dies mid-1867, but this did not solve the cracking problem entirely