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The 1867 Shield Nickel with Rays in About Good (AG) condition is a coin that embodies a pivotal moment in post-Civil War American history. Introduced in 1866, the Shield Nickel was the first official five-cent piece struck in a copper-nickel alloy, a material chosen to reduce the nation's reliance on precious metals and to create durable coins suitable for mass circulation. The 1867 issue with rays represents only the second year of this new denomination and design and is notable for its distinctive stylistic features that would soon be modified. The short-lived “with rays” design makes the 1867 Rays nickel especially desirable to collectors, even in low grades like About Good, where it still retains its identity and historical presence.
The introduction of the Shield Nickel came during Reconstruction, a time when the U.S. government was attempting to rebuild a fractured nation and stabilize its monetary system. The war had disrupted the precious metal supply and removed silver coins from circulation, prompting the Mint to seek alternatives. Mint Director James Pollock proposed the creation of a five-cent piece using base metals, and Congress authorized the denomination in 1866. The Shield Nickel, designed by James B. Longacre—then Chief Engraver of the Mint—was the result. Its heavy composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel was difficult to strike, especially with the original reverse design that included rays between the stars, but its durability and symbolic strength made it a landmark coin in U.S. numismatic history.
The obverse of the 1867 Shield Nickel features a large heraldic shield at center, a symbol of national unity and strength, flanked by olive branches on both sides and topped with a cross and draped ribbons. The motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears in bold letters across the top of the coin, placed prominently above the shield. At the bottom, a pair of arrows lies across the base of the design. In AG condition, this obverse is heavily worn, and most fine details are lost. The central outline of the shield is still discernible, though the cross, ribbon, and olive leaves may appear only faintly or be merged with the fields. The motto is likely faded but partially visible, and the perimeter may be flattened due to wear.
The reverse of the coin shows the denomination “5” in large numerals at the center, surrounded by thirteen stars representing the original colonies. Between each of the stars are radiating rays, which give this variety its name. These rays were intended to enhance the coin’s appearance and reflect the post-war optimism and unity of the nation. The inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” appears around the upper half of the coin’s perimeter, while “CENTS” is placed at the bottom. In AG condition, the reverse is typically smoothed to the point where only the outline of the large “5” remains distinct. The rays may be faint or partially blended into the background, and the stars may be only partially visible. The legends around the edges may show breaks but are usually readable enough to identify the type and variety.
The 1867 Shield Nickel with Rays was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the only mint in operation for this denomination at that time. The mintage for the 1867 With Rays variety is estimated at approximately 2,019,000 coins, a figure that seems modest today considering the amount of wear these coins endured. The rays between the stars proved to be problematic during the minting process, increasing die breakage and contributing to production inefficiencies. By the end of 1867, the Mint eliminated the rays from the reverse design, creating the more common “No Rays” variety for the remainder of the series. This change makes the “With Rays” subtype from both 1866 and early 1867 a one-year-only design in practical collecting terms, further enhancing its numismatic interest.
Despite its heavy wear, an 1867 With Rays Shield Nickel in AG condition still carries strong historical and collector value. It marks the brief lifespan of a distinctive design that reflects the challenges of a developing industrial minting system and a postwar economy seeking stability. As a representative of the nation’s recovery and unity, the Shield motif is especially appropriate. Even when its features are largely worn smooth, the coin’s overall layout and proportions are retained, making it recognizable to experienced collectors and offering a tactile link to the era in which it circulated.
The Shield Nickel’s tough copper-nickel composition made it prone to heavy die wear and often resulted in coins that were weakly struck, especially in the finer elements. As such, even in higher grades, coins from this series may lack crisp detail. In AG condition, circulation wear dominates the surfaces, but many examples still maintain enough detail to attribute the coin as the “With Rays” variety. This attribution is crucial, as many coins were mistakenly cleaned, damaged, or misidentified over time. Surviving examples with original, unaltered surfaces—despite their low grade—are often more desirable to collectors than cleaned specimens that may have lost their character.
The aesthetic of the Shield Nickel was unlike any U.S. coin before it. Its bold, abstract design choices—especially the use of rays, large numerals, and the central shield—marked a shift toward symbolic rather than purely classical motifs. Longacre’s use of the shield on coinage also set a precedent for other denominations, eventually influencing designs like the Shield Penny and the Barber coinage. The 1867 With Rays nickel, though small and worn in AG grade, belongs to this important lineage and offers collectors a chance to own a piece of numismatic innovation tied to national healing and technological progress.
Collectors who specialize in 19th-century U.S. coinage, transitional types, or copper-nickel compositions often seek out the 1867 With Rays Shield Nickel, regardless of grade. AG examples offer an affordable entry point into this historic variety. They are especially valuable in educational contexts, allowing collectors to study early U.S. Mint design challenges and innovations without the cost associated with higher-grade pieces. While the coin may show only the barest outlines of its original features, it still conveys the legacy of a nation redefining itself after civil conflict, as well as the evolving art and function of its coinage.
The 1867 Shield Nickel with Rays in About Good condition remains a significant and enduring piece of American numismatics. Though time and use have worn away much of its detail, the coin continues to tell a powerful story—one of a country finding unity after division, and of a mint system striving for efficiency and permanence in its new designs. For collectors, even in its most worn state, this coin represents a foundational chapter in the evolution of U.S. coinage, and its distinctive features, short-lived variety, and symbolic design secure its place in the story of American money.