1868 Nickel MS Values

Greysheet & Red Book® Price Guide

Sponsor

shop eBay

Sponsor

shop

Sponsor

shop David Lawrence Rare Coins

Sponsor

shop CAC

Sponsor

shop Great Collections

1868 Nickel MS Values

Details

The 1868 Shield Nickel is extremely common as the mintage is very high (almost 29 million) making it the second most common coin in the series and the ideal type coin. Easily accessible in all grades until MS67 where it becomes quite scarce. This issue is known to be well struck but suffers from problems with die cracks.

Obverse: A shield flanked on the left and right by leaves topped with a cross with arrows positioned behind at the bottom so the arrow heads and shanks protrude at the sides. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears at the top periphery with the date positioned at the bottom center.

Reverse: A large numeral 5 surrounded by 13 stars centered in the design with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * CENTS around the periphery.

Basic Information

GSID:

2871

Coin Date:

1868

Denomination:

5c / 5 Cents

Designation:

MS

Mint & Coinage Details

Mint Location:

Philadelphia

Mintage:

28,817,000

Coinage Type:

Shield nickel

Coinage Years:

1867-1883

Composition:

75% copper; 25% nickel

Physical Characteristics

Weight:

5 gr

Weight:

0.1608 oz

Strike Type:

Business

Diameter:

20.5 mm

Coin Shape:

Round

Design Details

Designer:

James B. Longacre

Obverse Lettering:

IN GOD WE TRUST, 1868

Obverse Designer:

James B. Longacre

Reverse Lettering:

5, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CENTS

Reverse Designer:

James B. Longacre

Feedback:

Available on Greysheet Marketplace

View All

Dealer Directory

View All Dealers

Greysheet News

View All News
1796/5 Half Eagle Leads Heritage U.S. Coins Auction to Nearly $12 Million
1796/5 Half Eagle Leads Heritage U.S. Coins Auction to Nearly $12 Million
4/1/2026

Early U.S. gold rarities, an 1879 Flowing Hair Stella and S.S. Central America ingots power strong results in March 26-28 event

Honoring 250 Years of America's Coinage
Honoring 250 Years of America's Coinage
3/27/2026

Whitman Launches its U.S. 250th Anniversary Collection of Albums and Folders for Semiquincentennial Coins Entering Circulation

Gold Trump Coin Gets Panel Review
Gold Trump Coin Gets Panel Review
3/20/2026

As the final item on the March 19 agenda, the Commission of Fine Arts considered an obverse and reverse design for a potential addition to the nation's Semiquincentennial coinage offerings.

Map icon

DAVID LAWRENCE RARE COINS