Shield Type Nickels Minted From 1866 to 1883
The first nickels minted in the United States were known as the Shield Nickel and were manufactured from just after the end of the Civil War from 1866 to 1883. Two varieties were minted which have the numeral 5 on the reverse. The earlier version of the coin was made for 2 years and included rays emanating from the center of the coin and out between 13 stars representing the 13 original colonies. And on the second version made from 1867 to 1883 did not include the rays between the stars.
