The first coin issued by the United States Mint that went by the name nickel was introduced in 1866. The Shield Nickel was issued following the US Civil War and replaced the historic US Half Dime, a silver coin that was in circulation since the 1790s and suffered from hoarding by Americans during the Civil War as the value of silver far exceeded the face value of the coins. Today, you have the chance to get certified 1883 Shield Nickels online from Provident Metals.

Highlights:

• Arrives with a protective NGC plastic slab!
• Last coin in the Shield Nickel Series!
• Limited number of certified coins available!
• Contains 75% copper and 25% nickel.
• The face value of $.05 (USD) is backed by the United States of America.
• Graded Mint State 65 by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.
• On the obverse side is the US national shield.
• The reverse features the denomination and 13 stars.

From 1792 until the Civil War, the US Mint issued a five-cent coin that was known as the Half Dime. While this coin had the same five-cent denomination as the existing US Nickel we know today, it was a 90% silver coin and saw its intrinsic value skyrocket beyond its face value during the Civil War. Following the war, nickel industrialists pushed for nickel to be the primary new metal in the US five-cent piece.

Obverse

On the obverse side of 1883 Shield Nickels is a depiction of the United States national shield. The image shows an ornate shield with a wreath above, and offers inscriptions of IN GOD WE TRUST overhead and 1883 beneath.

Reverse

The reverse face of the 1883 Shield Nickel comes with an image of the number 5. This represents he face value of the coin and is accompanied by an inscription beneath that reads CENTS. Other nations on this field include a ring of 13 stars and an inscription of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

History

When the Shield Nickel was first introduced, it featured rays of light between each of the 13 stars. This design was discontinued in 1867, just one year after the coins introduction. In 1883, the US Mint was authorized to issue Shield Nickels one final time alongside the new Liberty Head Nickels that were also in production.

Ordering

These 1883 Shield Nickels are available with a Mint State 65 grade from the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Coins in this condition have high-quality, attractive mint luster for the age. The coins also feature potential flaws that include small clusters of contact marks, one or two heavier marks, one or two patches of small hairlines, and light scuff marks.

Please contact Provident Metals if you have any questions. You can call us at 800-313-3315, chat with us live online, or simply send us an email with your inquiries.