1881 Nickel Value

Mint State: The definition of "Mint State" grade within the coin market is a coin that has no wear on its surface. This high condition coin never circulated. Absence of wear is the primary factor in determining this grade Shield nickel.

When examining your coin for signs of wear, focus on the intricate design features. Raised, fine details show wear quickly, as visible small flattened spots. First, examine the image, the leaves on the left side of the coin, and the cross at the top of the shield. Compare these key areas to your coin. A close match with fully rounded contours is a good indication of high quality.

Leaves on the left side of the nickel display raised edges and a central vein. Without wear, they are crisp and well-defined. Compare the high points to the lower areas of the leaf, both are similar in texture. Any wear on high edges smooths the metal, creating a different look from the center and lower areas.

Next, using a second area helps identify condition. The cross at the top of the shield has both raised and recessed elements. It is a useful point for determining the presence or absence of wear. Inspect the fine line edge detail surrounding the cross, as well as the raised area within its center. In Mint State grade these details are sharp and well-defined. No surface shows any smoothing or flattening.

Of note, on the imaged coin, the left side is sharper with better detail. Early nickels were often unbalanced in their strike quality. This uneven, but subtle factor does make it challenging to judge wear and quality. Use the sharper detailed side as the primary side for determining the coin's grade.

Extremely Fine: 1881 is a scarce year within Shield nickel series. It is rare in high grades. Take special care when judging its condition. Coins in this grade exhibit considerable detail with minimal wear. High points, slightly smooth with small merging areas, define the grade.

Within the shield, horizontal and vertical lines present excellent areas to gauge wear. Inspect the vertical lines forming the stripes of the shield. At the grade standard, fine lines within the strips are clear and separated. Use a magnifying glass to check for slight wear within these stripes. A small amount of fading in areas meets the quality required.

Often, the horizontal lines show slightly more wear. Judging quality here presents a slight challenge due to strike quality. Not all Shield Nickels were boldly struck along the horizontal lines. Judge the completeness of these lines over their entire area. The grade standard accepts a few areas of faded lines and slight merging. Importantly, full, and bold lines meet the edges of the frame's border. Confirm this subtle grading feature with a magnifying glass.

Examine the border of the shield next. This frame of the shield remains distinct, with minimal signs of wear. The many high points on raised contours are slightly flattened. A slight merging of deep recesses into flat areas is also present. Note, the amount of clear detail far exceeds the indistinct detail. A close match with the image identifies a quality nickel in strong demand.

Fine Grade: Using a comparison approach of your coin to the example, examine the condition of both. A Fine grade Shield Nickel retains nice detail along with signs of moderate wear. This wear results in a slightly flattened appearance, with key features remaining bold. Specific standards determine the grade based on the amount of wear.

Primary areas of focus are the motto "In God We Trust" and the date. Both are readable, even if slightly worn. The motto often appears faded, yet remains legible. The date requires a higher standard of unquestionable clarity.

Inspect the shield next to gauge remaining detail. The horizontal lines show the greatest amount of wear. The Fine grade requires at least half of these lines visible. The vertical lines are also mostly intact. These vertical lines are better preserved with a crisp appearance. Some slight merging in disconnected areas is permissible. This detail helps improve the coin's collectible quality.

On either side of the shield, the leaves' contour and their central vein display a moderate amount of wear. Required for the grade, most leaves show a slight high and low contour with visible central veins. A strong edge outlines most leaves. A few isolated edges merging with the leaf below meet the grade standard.

At this time, compare your coin to the image. The example is a professionally evaluated nickel, graded as Fine condition. A close match of lettering, shield, and leaf details places your coin within the grade range. A collectible nickel features crisp, clearly visible details, despite some worn areas.

Good Grade: 1881 nickels are rare, and many of the few remaining coins are heavily worn. Defining the Good grade are missing inner details, full outlines of devices, and a clear date.

Examine all central design elements. A Shield nickel features a shield with a wreath of olive branches on either side. Inspecting the example image, the shield and wreath are smooth, with complete edges. Wear has removed enough metal, leaving only a flat surface.

A bold element does remain, the vertical stripes within the shield. These stripes are fully visible and well-defined. These raised strips allow the coin to grade in Good condition. Surrounding the stripes, an edge on the shield's frame is bold and distinct, raised above the field.

Next, inspect the wreath on either side of the shield. Noticeably worn smooth are inner details of all individual leaves. Flattened leaf "groups" are all that remain. Full and distinct outer edges of the wreath, with no merging into the field, is the metric used at this grade level.

Clarity of the date and motto "In God We Trust" also determine the grade. An unquestionable date is a primary and strict requirement. Next, examine the motto on the example imaged. A slight fading of the motto is evident near the rim. Tilting your coin under a single light brings out the true extent of any fading. This technique potentially confirms fading at only the tops of letters. A readable motto meets the grade standard and enhances the coin's overall appearance.

A Good grade 1881 nickel with eye appeal is collectible quality, and highly sought. Heavy wear, visually offset by fully outlined devices, defines the condition.

Shield Nickel Value | Complete Value Chart of All Years

Complete listing of all Shield Nickel values. 1881 nickels are rare and a value leader on the charts. Because of their age and historical significance, all dates are worth a close look. Separate your coins by condition. Look for above average examples to find a higher value.

How to Grade Shield Nickels | Visual Guide

Judging the condition of an 1881 Shield nickel is especially important. The value chart lists significant differences in values. A range of grades are presented in the visual guide, indicating features to examine. Subtle details are highlighted for specific requirements to meet the various grades. With images to illustrate important points, arrive at a conservative judgment of condition.