FrostbyteCoins
Nickel · $0.05
1867 Shield & Liberty Nickels (1866-1912)
Key Features
- Designer: James B. Longacre - 75% copper, 25% nickel; 5.00 g - Rays removed from the reverse in early 1867 - 1867 comes both With Rays and Without Rays
Intriguing History
The first Shield nickels had rays between the stars on the back, and they caused trouble. The hard nickel alloy wore out the dies quickly, and many people thought the stars and rays looked like the Confederate "stars and bars." In early 1867 the rays were removed. The Mint likely used up its leftover rayed dies first, so 1867 nickels exist both with and without rays. That year Judd lists dozens of five-cent patterns, Judd-561 to Judd-576, struck in nickel, copper and even aluminum.
Total Weight5.00 g