Whitman Expo
Demand for eye-appealing and premium quality coins pushes Heritage Auctions' July 20 event over $237,000.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Go check them out!
Relatively high mintage of 3,575 coins (a mintage drop from 1880, but still higher). More common in most grades and becoming scarce as a high-end gem. Gradually tougher with cameo surfaces. Deep cameo surfaces are actually very rare for this issue. Most of this issue is plain white with a select few pastel rainbow toners available.
Obverse Description
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 Description
A large numeral 5 surrounded by 13 stars centered in the design with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * CENTS around the periphery.
Catalog Information
GSID:
2937
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
IN GOD WE TRUST, 1881
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
5, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CENTS
Weight (gr):
5 gr
Weight (oz):
0.1608 oz
Strike Type:
Proof
Diameter:
20.5
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Coin Date:
1881
Denomination:
5c
Designation:
PR
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
3,575
Coinage Type:
Shield nickel
Coinage Years:
1867-1883
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
PCGS #:
3836
Send Catalog Feedback
To: editor@greysheet.com
Subject: I would like to contribute catalog info to CDN for 1881 5c PR
Body: Referring page: http://beta.greysheet.com/prices/item/1881-five-cents-proof-shield-nickel/gsid/2937 GSID: 2937 Title: 1881 5c PR
Subscribe to View
View more data, info, and visualizations. Get access to retail and wholesale pricing as well as auction data.
Coin Value History
1881 5c PR
Value By Grade
1881 5c PR
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR67 |
|
$1,650 | $1,234 |
| PR67 | - | $1,400 | $1,234 |
| PR66 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR66 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Shield Nickel 5c Rays, 1866-1867 PR [Type]
Worth: $875 – $12,600
1866 5c Rays PR
Worth: $875 – $12,600
1867 5c Rays PR
Worth: $18,000 – $50,000
Shield Nickel 5c No Rays, 1867-1883 PR [Type]
Worth: $180 – $7,200
1867 5c No Rays PR
Worth: $180 – $1,980
1867 5c No Rays, Pattern Reverse, FS-1902 PR
Worth: $1,800 – $13,200
1868 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $3,600
1869 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $3,960
1870 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $1,410
1871 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $5,400
1872 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $3,600
1873 5c Closed 3 PR
Worth: $180 – $3,180
1874 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $3,360
1875 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $6,000
1876 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $2,640
1881 5C JD-2, R.1, PR65 PCGS. Two die pairs are known for the 1881 proof, evenly sharing the 3,575-coin mintage. This Gem J...
$763
1881 5C JD-1, R.1, PR64 PCGS. CAC. Both proof 1881 Shield nickel varieties are plentiful. JD-1 shows the date further right...
$765
1881 5C PR45 PCGS. PCGS Population: 4 in 45, 1016 finer (5/26). CDN: $182 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS PR45. Mintage 3,575. ...
$512
1881 5C PR63 PCGS. Housed in a Generation 3.1 green label holder. CDN: $405 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS PR63. Mintage 3,575....
$476
1881 5C PR66 PCGS. Mintage 3,575. ...
$660
1881 Shield Nickel. Unc Details--Corrosion Removed (PCGS).
$456
1881 Shield Nickel. Proof-62 (PCGS).
$312
1881 5C PR58 NGC. NGC Census: (5/710). PCGS Population: (10/949). CDN: $195 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS PR58. Mintage 3,575. ...
$198
1881 5C PR67 PCGS. PCGS Population: (33/0). NGC Census: (23/1). CDN: $980 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS PR67. Mintage 3,575. ...
$1,020
1881 5C PR61 ANACS. NGC Census: (5/678). PCGS Population: (9/857). Mintage 3,575. ...
$282
1881 5C PR55 PCGS. PCGS Population (1/806). NGC Census: (2/639). Mintage: 3,575. (#3836)...
$316
1881 5C --Corroded--NCS. Proof. NGC Census: (1/625). PCGS Population (0/793). Mintage: 3,575. Numismedia Wsl. Price for NGC/...
$253
1881 5C PR68 NGC. The second 8 in the date is lightly recut within the upper and lower loops. An immaculately preserved exa...
$4,888
1881 5C PR65 PCGS. CDN: $660 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS PR65. Mintage 3,575. ...
$671
1881 5C PR64 NGC. CDN: $465 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS PR64. Mintage 3,575. ...
$576
1881 Shield Nickel. Proof-45 (PCGS).
$480
1881 Shield Nickel. Proof-63 (PCGS).
$504
1881 5C PR66 PCGS. CAC. CAC Population: (63/16). Mintage 3,575. ...
$960
1881 Shield Nickel. Proof. Unc Details--Cleaned (PCGS).
$288
1881 Shield Nickel. Proof-62 (PCGS).
$312
Greysheet News
Distinctive Morgan Dollars Lead Heritage's July Attractively Toned U.S. Coins Showcase Auction
7/27/2026
1888 Proof Double Eagle Leads Heritage's Summer FUN U.S. Coins Auction to $12.4 Million
1861-S Paquet Double Eagle, rare 1930-S Indian Eagle and early U.S. gold also rank among July 16-18 event highlights.
7/24/2026
Gold Rush Gallery Finds a Permanent Home with the Southern Gold Society
The website will be maintained as a fully functional resource to preserve its extensive historical content and the thousands of existing links that researchers and collectors rely upon.
7/21/2026
Events
Midlands Coin Club Coin, Currency and Collectibles Show - SC
Location: Medallion Center
Friday, May 1, 2026
