United States
5 Cents "Shield Nickel" · “Shield Nickel”
United States · 1866–1883 · Copper
The coin
The story
The Shield Nickel: America's First Nickel
In 1866 the United States struck a five-cent coin out of a brand-new metal mix — and almost immediately regretted it. The alloy was so tough it cracked the Mint's steel dies faster than they could be made. The Shield Nickel is the coin that taught America how hard nickel really is.
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