Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 3/25/2024: Gold $2167 | Silver $24.59


1869 Nickel Value

High 1869 nickel value shows just how scarce these coins are. Your Shield Nickel, as it is known to collectors, is a rather elusive and historically important part of the first nickels minted by the United States.

Uncirculated 1869 Nickel Value

You have a valuable coin. Now, to accurately find out how much it is worth...

After the date is determined - condition - is what collectors and dealers turn their attention to as they value coins.

Known as "Grading" judging the amount of wear by comparing your coin to the "Grading" images below determines a true value. Each stage of wear is valued separately and the chart often shows a doubling of price for better preserved coins.

For example: The "Uncirculated" 1869 Nickel pictured is an outstanding high grade coin, and worth $150 or more.

1869 Nickel Value
 Condition of Coin
DateGoodFineExtremely
Fine
Uncirculated
  1869 Nickel Value Updated 2024
1869 $22 $26 $56 $150

1869 Nickel Value is Conditional

Visit...  Video | Grading Shield Nickels

Video | Grading Shield Nickels

Your old nickel values often span a wide range depending on condition. The grading descriptions and images indicate major points of the coin design to observe as you evaluate the condition of your old nickel.

1869 Nickel Uncirculated Condition

Uncirculated: Radiating with the shine of a new coin, mint luster is still present over the entire surface. A Shield nickel in uncirculated condition shows no signs of wear. Check for breaks in luster on the high points of the design, the Cross, the frame of the Shield and the roundness of the leaves. Wear is indicated by a leveling of the design in these areas and loss of shine.

1869 Shield Nickel Extremely Fine Condition

Extremely Fine: Typical of Extremely Fine condition is light wear on the leaves and across the top of the cross. The shield border is beginning to wear and loosing detail as well as the fine horizontal and vertical lines within the shield. Your coin still has a bold crisp look.

Shield Nickel Fine Condition

Fine: Moderate even wear depicts a nickel in Fine condition. Leaves surrounding the shield are bold and outlined, the cross is bold but each are lacking interior design details. The border of the shield, once full of detail is now smooth. Protected in the shield's interior, some of the fine horizontal and vertical lines are still visible. Lettering on both obverse and reverse is complete but weak. The stars on the reverse are worn flat, the center radiating line details are lacking from all but one or two stars.

Shield Nickel Good Condition

Good: Your 1869 Nickel value is at the low range for a Shield nickel in Good condition. Nearly worn smooth, only the major details remain in outline form. The date is often very weak but readable. Both the obverse and reverse rims have worn into parts of the lettering. Once a bold numeral "5" is now quite faint.

High 1869 Nickel Value

Shield Nickels carefully handled and well preserved since minted are avidly sought today by collectors wishing to add them to their collections. Coins in this condition, no wear, lustrous, with few abrasions are rare and selling coins at auction often brings strong prices.

Rare 1869 Nickel Value

A "Sparkling Gem" 1869 Shield nickel was offered at a David Lawrence Rare Coin Auction attracting the attention of a few bidders. Recognized by all as a chance to add a lustrous gem to their collections, bidding did not end until reaching $750.

The coin in the center of the group is a rarity because of the satiny untouched surfaces. Seldom can a Shield nickel claim such mark free surfaces, combined with strong luster, deserving of the strong selling price of $678.

Always popular and valuable are naturally toned coins. Displaying "Subtle Toning" the third example of a rare nickel sold for good value at $255. One or two unfortunate marks on the surface kept this otherwise pleasing coin from a much higher price. It is however of a quality any advanced collector appreciates.

CoinStudy Articles

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In Depth Shield Nickel Value

Visit...  Shield Nickel Value

Shield Nickel Value

Complete listing of Shield nickel values and larger grading images combine to find an accurate value of all your Shield nickels.

Visit...  Old Nickel Values

More Old Nickel Values

Including more relating to your 1869 nickel value. Other nickel series are described, value charts provided and linked to... Liberty nickels, followed by Buffalo nickels and the current Jefferson Nickels.

Coin Values Discovery... finds the 1869 nickel value and...

all old US coin values. It is an excellent index with images and text links to all coin series, from Cents to Gold. Value charts, grading images and descriptions uncover how much your box of old coins is worth.