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1866 Shield Nickel Rays MS64

in Other US Coins
$900.00
In stock — 1 available • Free shipping
Stock: 1 Free shipping

1866 Shield Nickel Rays MS64 The 1866 Shield Nickel Rays MS64 opens the Shield Nickel series as the first U.S. five-cent nickel coin. This Rays variety from the inaugural year carries immediate recognition among collectors building 19th-century type sets. Its shield obverse pairs with a numeral 5 reverse, struck in copper-nickel composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

The issue replaced wartime fractional currency and introduced nickel as a standard U.S. denomination. Collectors pursue the 1866 Shield Nickel Rays MS64 for its foundational role in any complete 19th-century nickel type collection, securing its place as the first nickel five-cent piece.

Key features

  • Year: 1866
  • Denomination: nickel
  • Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
  • Obverse: Shield obverse with numeral 5 reverse.
  • Varieties: Rays
  • Grade: MS64
Item #1204 • Updated 2026-09-13 07:49:04

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