Rare Shield Nickels: The Shield Nickel, first minted in 1866, was the first U.S. five-cent coin made of nickel and copper. It featured a bold shield design on the obverse and a large numerical “5” encircled by stars on the reverse. Although it was replaced by the Liberty Head Nickel in 1883, Shield Nickels remain … Continue reading 8 Key Dates and Varieties for Valuing Shield Nickels