1881 Shield Nickel Value
A 1881 Shield Nickel is worth roughly $1.75 to $567 depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1881 Shield Nickel value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $1.75 to $2.95 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $2.55 to $4.30 |
| Fine (F-12) | $4.40 to $7.45 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $8.00 to $13.50 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.50 to $24.50 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $28.00 to $47.50 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $56.00 to $94.50 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $112 to $189 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $336 to $567 |
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 1881 Shield Nickel worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1881 Shield Nickel starts around $1.75. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $567. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1881 Shield Nickel specifications
- Series
- Shield Nickel
- Year
- 1881
- 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
No mint mark? Here is why
Philadelphia struck the 1881 Shield Nickel, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (None, all Shield nickels were struck at Philadelphia) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
What collectors pay for in a 1881 Shield Nickel
The original 1866 'with rays' reverse proved especially difficult to strike and was simplified within a year, creating a two-year subtype. For the 1881 Shield Nickel, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.
Documented examples of the 1881 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.
1881 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 1881 Shield Nickel specimens
1 physically measured 1881 Shield Nickel example 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1881 Shield Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1881 Shield Nickel is valued between $1.75 and $567 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.