1869 Shield Nickel
Updated August 19, 2026
| Lot number | 61 |
| Auction | VARIETY COIN AUCTION - 8/26/26 |
| Date | August 26, 2026 at 7:05 PM CDT |
| Auction house | BIGBIDNOW |
| Location | Columbia, Missouri |
1869 Shield Nickel, struck at the Philadelphia Mint. This early issue from the Shield Nickel series features the classic With No Rays reverse and represents an important period in early U.S. nickel coinage. Please review the photos for the exact condition, surfaces, strike, and overall appearance. The Shield Nickel was introduced in 1866 as the first U.S. five-cent coin made primarily of nickel. The obverse features a shield with the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST,” while the reverse displays a large Roman numeral “V” surrounded by stars and a wreath. The 1869 issue had a mintage of approximately 16,216,000 coins. Following the one-year 1866 With Rays design, the reverse was changed to the With No Rays type beginning in 1867 to improve striking quality. The coin was struck in 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighs approximately 5.00 grams, and measures about 20.5 mm in diameter. Philadelphia Mint examples carry no mint mark.
