1879 Shield Nickel (5c)

The 1879 Shield Nickel comes from the later years of this distinctive series, which was the first nickel five-cent piece produced by the U.S. Mint. This is an exceedingly rare date -- one of the keys in the shield nickel series -- with only 25,900 minted.

This CAC-approved coin displays lovely original surfaces with a pleasing silver-gray patina. The strike is bold, with crisp shield lines on the obverse and clear star details on the reverse. Under magnification, the surfaces reveal minimal marks for the grade, and the fields exhibit attractive cartwheel luster when rotated under light. The eye appeal is excellent, with the coin presenting a harmonious, untouched appearance that exemplifies what CAC looks for when making their selective approvals.