Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 12/9/2024: Gold $2645 | Silver $31.20
1871 Nickel Value
High 1871 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.
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" 1871 Nickel pictured is an outstanding high grade coin, and worth $400 or more.
| 1871 Nickel Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condition of Coin | ||||
| Date | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1871 Nickel Value Updated | 2024 | |||
| 1871 | $54 | $96 | $162 | $403 |
1871 Nickel Value is Conditional
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.
Uncirculated: Radiating with the shine of a new coin, mint luster is still present over the entire surface. An 1871 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.
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.
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.
Good: Your 1871 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 1871 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.
Displaying appealing "Satin Surfaces" $690 was required of the wining bidder in order to proudly take home a super nice gem from a David Lawrence Rare Coin Auction. With remarkably original surfaces and light toning, a very nice Shield nickel was added to a collection.
The center piece of the three rare 1871 Shield nickels pictured is notable for the bright steel grey luster, as if minted yesterday. Care was obviously taken over the years to preserve this coin for many generations. Discerning care is appreciated by collectors and rewarded the seller with a value of $488 at auction.
With varying degrees of quality, the minting of nickels produces a coin that can be describes as a "Boldly Struck" example. Recognized as a superior strike and in combination with light golden toning with few distraction marks the nickel collector takes notice. A bid of $701 was required to secure this gem for an advanced collection.
CoinStudy Articles
Date by Date
In Depth Shield Nickel Value
Complete listing of Shield nickel values and larger grading images combine to find an accurate value of all your Shield nickels.
Including more relating to your 1871 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 1871 nickel value and...
all old US coin values. It is an excellent index with images and text links to coin series, from Cents to Gold. Value charts, grading images and descriptions uncover how much your box of old coins is worth.