Biill Jones Basic Type set with out gold
5C SHIELD, WITH RAYS (1866-1867)

Previous Slot | Next Slot

Back to Set Listing >

View Image Gallery >

Obverse:

Enlarge

Reverse:

Enlarge

Coin Details

Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: FIVE-CENT PIECES - SHIELD
Item Description: 5C 1866 RAYS
Full Grade: NGC MS 64
Owner: BillJones

Set Details

Custom Sets: This coin is not in any custom sets.
Competitive Sets: Bill Jones' Type Set   Score: 1226
Bill's Nickels   Score: 1226
Bill Jones' Type Set Excluding Modern Issues   Score: 1226
Bill Jones' Basic Type set   Score: 1226
Biill Jones Basic Type set with out gold   Score: 1226
A survey of 19th century business strike coin   Score: 1226
Research: NGC Coin Explorer NGC Coin Price Guide
NGC US Coin Census for Shield Five Cents (1866-1883)

Owner Comments:

Much to the chagrin of the U.S. mint employees, nickel made a comeback in 1865 on the three cent piece and in 1866 on the new nickel five cent piece. This copper-nickel alloy was hard, brittle and difficult to strike. Nickel also had a much higher melting point than gold, silver or copper. The planchets were often subject to laminations in which parts of the coin would peal off from the surface. The coins, especially these Shield Nickels, ate up dies like crazy as evidenced by the many die breaks that are often found on these pieces. It was no wonder that the mint employees called nickel, “the devil’s copper.”

This coin is exceptionally well struck for the type, and it has bright luster. One small lamination is noted at 7 o’clock on the reverse.

To follow or send a message to this user,
please log in