The ONLY Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair On A Dime & Nickel Planchet NGC PF65 UNIQUE
US $50,000
Ebay
1881 5C Shield Nickel PCGS MS66
US $5,922
Grade
Add On NONE
Grading service
PCGS
Cert number
56206101
Certification
—
Date
2026-06-09
Category
—
Sub category
—
Dealer
Description
1881 5C Shield Nickel PCGS MS66
PCGS # 3811
Grading Service PCGS
Grade MS66
Mint Location Philadelphia
Year 1881
Designation
Strike Business
Grade Add On NONE
1881 5C Shield Nickel PCGS MS66
1881 5C
SKU: 56206101
A conditionally scarce low-mintage Shield nickel, this 1881 five-cent piece is an especially appealing Gem, certified PCGS MS66 and ranked among the finer survivors of the issue.
The Shield nickel, introduced in 1866 as America’s first base-metal five-cent coin, remains one of the most distinctive and mechanically challenging 19th-century U.S. series. The obverse displays the large national shield with cross and scrollwork, flanked by laurel leaves and surmounted by the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, with the date 1881 below. The reverse carries the bold central numeral 5 encircled by stars, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around and CENTS below, the classic and instantly recognizable type for the later Shield nickel design.
This example presents with the strong visual quality expected of the assigned MS66 grade. The strike is notably sharp for the issue, with excellent definition through the shield lines, cross, leaves, and reverse stars. Bright satiny to softly frosted luster flows across both sides, complemented by generally silver-gray surfaces with delicate champagne-gold accents at the margins. Surface preservation is superior, with only the minor marks consistent with high-end Gem status, and the overall eye appeal is refined, balanced, and highly attractive.
The 1881 issue occupies an important place in the Shield nickel series. Although demand for nickels rose unexpectedly that year, the Philadelphia Mint still struck only 68,800 pieces for circulation, making it the third-lowest mintage of the entire series. As such, the date has long been recognized as a better issue and an essential acquisition for collectors assembling a complete Shield nickel set. While Mint State pieces do exist in collectible numbers, true Gems become appreciably more elusive, and high-grade certified examples remain avidly sought.
With a PCGS population of just 19 in MS66 and only 12 finer, this coin offers an appealing balance of scarcity, quality, and market relevance. The 1881 is not merely a low-mintage date; it is a legitimately scarce issue in the context of 19th-century minor coinage, and one that enjoys strong collector loyalty thanks to the enduring popularity of the Shield nickel series. Examples at this level are far from routine, particularly when paired with this level of strike and pleasing original color.
A handsome and desirable Gem from a challenging low-mintage issue, this 1881 Shield nickel would make a worthy addition to an advanced type set, date run, or high-grade collection of classic United States coinage.
PCGS # 3811
Grading Service PCGS
Grade MS66
Mint Location Philadelphia
Year 1881
Designation
Strike Business
Grade Add On NONE
1881 5C Shield Nickel PCGS MS66
1881 5C
SKU: 56206101
A conditionally scarce low-mintage Shield nickel, this 1881 five-cent piece is an especially appealing Gem, certified PCGS MS66 and ranked among the finer survivors of the issue.
The Shield nickel, introduced in 1866 as America’s first base-metal five-cent coin, remains one of the most distinctive and mechanically challenging 19th-century U.S. series. The obverse displays the large national shield with cross and scrollwork, flanked by laurel leaves and surmounted by the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, with the date 1881 below. The reverse carries the bold central numeral 5 encircled by stars, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around and CENTS below, the classic and instantly recognizable type for the later Shield nickel design.
This example presents with the strong visual quality expected of the assigned MS66 grade. The strike is notably sharp for the issue, with excellent definition through the shield lines, cross, leaves, and reverse stars. Bright satiny to softly frosted luster flows across both sides, complemented by generally silver-gray surfaces with delicate champagne-gold accents at the margins. Surface preservation is superior, with only the minor marks consistent with high-end Gem status, and the overall eye appeal is refined, balanced, and highly attractive.
The 1881 issue occupies an important place in the Shield nickel series. Although demand for nickels rose unexpectedly that year, the Philadelphia Mint still struck only 68,800 pieces for circulation, making it the third-lowest mintage of the entire series. As such, the date has long been recognized as a better issue and an essential acquisition for collectors assembling a complete Shield nickel set. While Mint State pieces do exist in collectible numbers, true Gems become appreciably more elusive, and high-grade certified examples remain avidly sought.
With a PCGS population of just 19 in MS66 and only 12 finer, this coin offers an appealing balance of scarcity, quality, and market relevance. The 1881 is not merely a low-mintage date; it is a legitimately scarce issue in the context of 19th-century minor coinage, and one that enjoys strong collector loyalty thanks to the enduring popularity of the Shield nickel series. Examples at this level are far from routine, particularly when paired with this level of strike and pleasing original color.
A handsome and desirable Gem from a challenging low-mintage issue, this 1881 Shield nickel would make a worthy addition to an advanced type set, date run, or high-grade collection of classic United States coinage.
