In Over Three Years NO ONE Brings up the Lowly Shield Nickel.

braddick · January 26, 2003 5:07AM

Is it really that unpopular?
I read an interesting article in Numismatic News regarding this series and realized I don't think I've ever read a thread regarding this series here. Does anyone collect these? Buffalos; Jeffersons, and even Liberty nickels are popular- but not the Shield?

EDITED to add: I just did a search under "shield" and there are some limited threads on this coin- I must have missed them though.
Why is this coin out of favor?

Or, do you believe it too will have its day?

gmarguli · January 26, 2003 5:13AM

There are the occasional threads on this coin.

We've discussed the fact that one of them that has a mintage of 35 coins has something like 80 certified.

Wondercoin also posted a picture of one he owns. I believe it is a 1879/8 graded PR69 and has stunning toning.

Dave99B · January 26, 2003 5:16AM

Pat -

I have always liked Shield nickels, buy not enough to collect them. I mainly stick with silver. Nickel-based collector coins scare me.

I've seen a few complete sets over the years (in Capital holders) what were pretty cool. One set was VG-F, one was MS63+. But I agree with you, the lowly Shields get very little ink. No idea why....

Dave

keithdagen · January 26, 2003 5:20AM

Sunnywood posts a lot of stuff over on the NGC boards, since most of his pieces are NGC -- in fact, I think he had a post today.

RotatedRainbows · January 26, 2003 5:27AM

I own one but I only bought it because of the major die rotation, as an added bonus I bought it at well below book value (for coins without the error) and it is a better date to boot.

relayer · January 26, 2003 5:30AM

I've only got this one - an ANACS PR65

BigD5 · January 26, 2003 5:39AM

They don't seem popular, but everytime I get a decent one, BAM. It sells like lightning.

coinguy1 · January 26, 2003 5:57AM

In honor of Braddick - The first year of issue, the 1866, had a Proof mintage of somewhere between 175 and 300 pieces, depending upon which source you choose to go with. Of those, PCGS has certified 310 and NGC has graded 212, for a total of 522! A few resubmissions, perhaps?

Here are images of a Proof and a mint state 1866:

relayer · January 26, 2003 5:59AM

Do you think I could cross mine over to PCGS at 65?

EVillageProwler · January 26, 2003 6:22AM

Sunnywood's thread across the street is excellent if you are actually into numismatics! Shield nicks aren't my area of expertise, otherwise I'd have tried to add more into the discussion!

EVP

braddick · January 26, 2003 6:37AM

Thanks guys. Those photos are keepers! I've always admired this Series but stayed away because I didn't really know much about it.
Neat design and the right size. Plus prices! Man, where else can you get this much coin for the cost?

Conder101 · January 26, 2003 6:39AM

Another intersting thing about the 1866 proof shield is that it is not struck from regular dies. Both the obverse and the reverse are actually pattern dies. The reverse die is not even that of the adopted design. It is from a different hub that has a different positional alignment between the star points and the letters of the inscriptions than that seen on the actual 1866 and 1867 with rays nickels.

LanLord · January 26, 2003 6:48AM

I love shields. I have a number of them, but it's not an easy set to find. The mid and late 70s are pretty tough.

Shield nickels and Russ' new fav the 2cent piece really go well together.

Zerbe · January 26, 2003 9:00AM

I'm doing the Proof shields. My set is the USA Collection. I only started it because I did'nt think hardly anybody was collecting them. That is not true though. Come to find out there are some serious Shield nickel guys out there. Most do not register their sets. I was not crazy about them when I first started, as I said I just wanted to do a quick, easy set, but I got a few nicely toned ones and now I like them. The coin Relayer posted is a good example of a toned shield. Sunnywood's set was on display at the NY ANA last summer.
Zerbe

darktone · January 26, 2003 9:36AM

Here's an 1874 I got coming with some cool die cracks! mike

relayer · January 26, 2003 12:15PM

Here's another picture of my shield nickel (that I took).

It's one of those coins you have to view at the right angle with the right light to see the colors, like in the other (which was the sellers photo) but they are there.

You can see why I show the sellers pictures.

DMWJR · January 26, 2003 12:47PM

I need the key in high grade . . . . . where is it?????? I have heard that there are a group of hoarders that pick them up and never sell. For two years I have looked, but no luck so far. Any tips on where to find one, please PM!

Doug

coppercoins · January 26, 2003 5:15PM

Another image to add to the pile. Coin belongs to RKKay, I just took the picture.

matteproof · January 26, 2003 7:36PM

Hi Braddick. The only Shield Nickel that I ever owned was a really nice 1877 Proof. It was a PCGS pr66 which is a proof only year with a mintage of 510 coins (reportedly). I sold it about a year ago. The series never attracted my attention too much as I'm not crazy about the design (looks like a "white" version of the Two Cent piece). Same designer for both coins. Selling the 1877 was fairly easy and quick because it is a "key date," PCGS certified, and a relatively high grade. However, I've seen common date examples of the Series languishing in dealer inventories. I think examples with gorgeous color (like the ones posted in this thread) are wonderful though.

matteproof

Conder101 · January 26, 2003 9:33PM

I've been a fan of Shield nickels for years (I had several articles on them published in Nickel News, the American Nickel Collectors Association publication.) and at one time I spent five years gathering notes for a book on die varieties for the series. Then Flechers's book came out. I bought a copy and his work is good but it seems all he was interested in was doubed dies and repunched dates. I was working on identifing all of the dies so I had about 200 varieties listed that he didn't. Of course he had about 200 that I didn't. Unfortunately I lost almost all my notes when my apartment burned in 1997 and I never started work on rebuilding them. (Maybe a new project to work on after the slabs?)

CarlWohlforth · January 26, 2003 10:41PM

I have one for my type set. As always I prefer cameo proofs. I always look for proof 1866 with rays nickels at shows. I almost bought one but shied away because of the large milk spot by the date. The '66 with rays is the only nickel I have missing from my complete type set.