Shield Nickels (1866-1883)

Littleton Coin Company is proud to offer an expert-graded collection of Shield nickels for sale. The first U.S. nickel five-cent piece design, these early nickels were issued from 1866 to 1883 and all struck in Philadelphia. Shield nickels were struck in two major varieties: Variety 1 coins (1886-1867) feature rays between the stars on the reverse, while Variety 2 coins (1867-1883) do not. The series' simple, patriotic design and history have made it a longtime favorite with collectors. Browse our selection below to take home a Shield nickel from this coveted series!