1868 Shield Nickel Value
A 1868 Shield Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. The figures below break the range down grade by grade.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1868 Shield Nickel value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.10 to $0.20 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.20 to $0.35 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.40 to $0.70 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.80 to $1.35 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.60 to $2.70 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $3.20 to $5.40 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $7.20 to $12.00 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $22.50 to $38.00 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
Today's value of the 1868 Shield Nickel
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1868 Shield Nickel starts around $0.10. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $38.00. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1868 Shield Nickel specifications
- Series
- Shield Nickel
- Year
- 1868
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 20.5 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Barton Longacre
The missing mint mark, explained
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1868 Shield Nickel is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time. On branch-mint examples the mark sits none, all Shield nickels were struck at Philadelphia.
What makes the 1868 Shield Nickel valuable
Documented examples of the 1868 Shield Nickel in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.
Context adds the final layer to the 1868 Shield Nickel. Longacre adapted the shield motif from his two-cent piece of 1864. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1868 Shield Nickel inscriptions & design
Obverse
IN GOD WE TRUST / (date)
Shield draped with laurel wreath
Reverse
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • / 5 / CENTS
Value within stars
Measured 1868 Shield Nickel specimens
2 physically measured 1868 Shield Nickel examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 5 g, 20.5 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1868 Shield Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1868 Shield Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1868 Shield Nickel is valued between $0.10 and $38.00 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.