1866 Shield Nickel

I would grade it as a Fine but the color looks a little funky(brownish?).

I have always assumed that the rays on 1866-67 Shield nickels were just used to help fill out the reverse detail. Unfortunately, that extra design element made it extremely difficult to get a full strike on hard nickel planchets. 1866 was also the first year for using 75/25 CuNi planchets and the Mint had difficulties with it for many years. Those striking difficulties led to the removal of the rays part way through 1867.

Arrows on silver issues were used to denote a change in silver content, a decrease for 1853-55 and an increase for 1873-74. The rays on the 1853 issues was another distinguishing element to denote the change.

F-15 to VF-20

This oldtimer sees sufficient leaf and ray detail to warrant a VF-20 grade. There appears to be a major die break on the reverse ... telling of the striking difficulty with these early nickels. Neat coin!