1868 Nickel MS Values

Greysheet & Red Book® Price Guide

Sponsor

shop eBay

Sponsor

shop

Sponsor

shop

Sponsor

shop Stacks Bowers Auctions

Sponsor

shop David Lawrence Rare Coins

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

Available on Greysheet Marketplace

View All

Dealer Directory

View All Dealers
Cabrella
FEATURED

Greysheet News

View All News
Over $10 Million in Rare U.S. Gold Coins in James A. Stack, Sr. Collection, Part II
Over $10 Million in Rare U.S. Gold Coins in James A. Stack, Sr. Collection, Part II
2/3/2026

The auction will be held on Tuesday, February 3 in Griffin Studios in Stack's Bowers Galleries international headquarters in Costa Mesa, CA.

Stack's Bowers Galleries Launches Premier E-Commerce Marketplace and New Collection Management Tool for Coin and Banknote Collectors
Stack's Bowers Galleries Launches Premier E-Commerce Marketplace and New Collection Management Tool for Coin and Banknote Collectors
2/3/2026

The Marketplace and Collection Management tools combine expert-verified purchasing with modern collection organization and tracking.

No Dollars? Capped Bust Half Dollars in the China Trade
No Dollars? Capped Bust Half Dollars in the China Trade
1/28/2026

According to Representative Campbell P. White, in his congressional report of 1832, the exportation of half dollars carried on steadily after 1804 and was extensive from 1811–1821.