1875 Shield Nickel
Base
About This Coin
The 1875 Shield Nickel is a United States nickel from the Shield Nickels 1866-1883 series — 10th of 18 years in the series. In 1875, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 2.1 million. This ranks 7th of 18 years by total mintage, below the series median of 3.2 million. The obverse features a large Union shield with a motto ribbon and crossed arrows behind it and the reverse displays a large numeral 5 within a circle of stars, without rays. Minted during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, as the nation healed from civil war and debated the role of silver and gold in the monetary system. Struck in 75% copper, 25% nickel, weighing 5 grams, 20.5 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Struck two years before the 1877 key date, the lowest-mintage regular issue in the series. Across its variants, estimated values range from $61 to $498 depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $10.0K in PR67+ grade at Legend Rare Coin Auctions. Designed by James Barton Longacre.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(2)
Other Base Coins in This Series
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