1881 5C Shield Nickel PCGS MS64 (CAC GOLD)

Better date in PCGS Rattler holder with Gold CAC Sticker!

Great low mintage issue for the type coin collector. PCGS has graded 30 as MS64 with 69 finer. In CAC, there are 6 in MS64 with 14 finer. Die cracks on the obverse give this piece an interesting look.

Ron Guth writes in PCGS Coinfacts: "Demand for Nickels rose inexplicably in 1881, and to meet the demand, the Mint produced 68,800 Nickels for circulation. Nonetheless, this was still the third lowest mintage for the entire Shield Nickel series, and this date remains scarce today. The overall quality of this date is especially nice, and enough Mint State examples have survived that finding one will not be too difficult. Gems are scarce, but not rare, and even a handful of MS67 examples await the collector."

James B. Longacre, the U.S. Mint Engraver who crafted the design of this issue.