1876 Shield Nickel Value
The 1876 Shield Nickel carries a current retail range of about $0.10 to $38.00 across circulated and Mint State grades. The figures below break the range down grade by grade.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1876 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.
How much is a 1876 Shield Nickel worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1876 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.
1876 Shield Nickel specifications
- Series
- Shield Nickel
- Year
- 1876
- 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 1876 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 1876 Shield Nickel valuable
The 1876 Shield Nickel lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
Context adds the final layer to the 1876 Shield Nickel. The hard nickel alloy battered the Mint's dies; cracks and cuds are so routine that specialists collect them as die varieties. 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.
1876 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 1876 Shield Nickel specimens
2 physically measured 1876 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1876 Shield Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1876 Shield Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1876 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.