Rays shield nickels...anyone else like these guys?

TheLiberator

Anyone else like these coins? I love 'em! I like the fact that the 1866 was the first 5 cent piece we ever made as a country and I like the low mintage of the 1867. Also, I think it is fairly cool that they were so hard that they busted every die ever made for them! (That's one tough coin!) I scored a really nice 1866 in ms64 and I am looking for an 1867 in ms64 if anyone knows where I can find one. They don't pop up too often and I CAN"T afford a 65!!

mgoodm3

Hey don't dis half dimes. They were around first. The shield nickel was the first non-silver 5c.

airplanenut

I like 'em... especially with die cracks





(The coin is greyer in person--I missed the boat on the lighting, and was too lazy to reshoot )

TheLiberator

<< <i>Hey don't dis half dimes. They were around first. The shield nickel was the first non-silver 5c. >>



oops! I guess so! Were shield nickels the first be called "nickels?"

291fifth

I am a big fan of them as well. Look for exceptionally well struck pieces. The grading services don't pay enough attention to strike when grading shield nickels as they seem mesmerized by luster.

CarlWohlforth

I love them too.

The 3 cent nickel was first minted in 1865. I wasn't around then so am not sure which was the first to be called nickels

FullHorn

I was wondering if there is a way to tell the date on this one I grabbed for 50 cents

TheLiberator

<< <i>I am a big fan of them as well. Look for exceptionally well struck pieces. The grading services don't pay enough attention to strike when grading shield nickels as they seem mesmerized by luster. >>



Cool. Good advice. It seems to be that since the die cracks are so common in shield nickels that they don't detract from the technical grade. I have seen several ms65's with a lot more cracks than my 64. I imagine though, that one without too many cracks would be easier to sell because of the eye apeal factor. Then again, some peoplelike the cracks as stated above!!

LanLord

I believe that the first coins to be called nickels were the copper-nickel cents of the Flying eagle and indian head designs.

This term was then taken over by the 3 cent nickel and ultimately by the nickel 5 cent piece.

TheLiberator

<< <i>I was wondering if there is a way to tell the date on this one I grabbed for 50 cents >>



hmmm...i'm not that much of a specialist to be able to know anything other than to say it is of course a 66 or 67!! heheeh

Statisticly speaking, it is probably a 66 since there were 14 million of those made and only 2 million 67's.

airplanenut

FullHorn--I believe you could Nic-a-date these if you wanted to.

Jeremy

Baley

I'm also a big fan of the with rays shield nickels, here's one of mine




dig the die cracks

TheLiberator

<< <i>I'm also a big fan of the with rays shield nickels, here's one of mine >>




Wow!! That's nice. What do you think the grade is on that one?

mas3cf

FullHorn-- You have an 1866.

Conder101

Lanlord is correct, the flying eagle cent was the first coins to be called nickels.

291fifth

<< <i>

<< <i>I am a big fan of them as well. Look for exceptionally well struck pieces. The grading services don't pay enough attention to strike when grading shield nickels as they seem mesmerized by luster. >>



Cool. Good advice. It seems to be that since the die cracks are so common in shield nickels that they don't detract from the technical grade. I have seen several ms65's with a lot more cracks than my 64. I imagine though, that one without too many cracks would be easier to sell because of the eye apeal factor. Then again, some peoplelike the cracks as stated above!! >>



The die life on these early shield nickels was only about 15,000 strikes. Die cracks are the norm rather than the exception.