Shield Nickel Has Me Stumped.

The lines coming out the back side of the 5. They match up with the lines from the main part of the shield when rotated in that direction on an overlay. However it would indicate a rotated and offset die(not unheard of), which the coin is not a rotated die. This also indicates that more than likely the obverse die was replaced with a newer die with correct alignment, or the original die was properly aligned after the clashing occurred. The coin does appear to have very light clash marks on the inside of the shield also, but not enough to tell if the obverse was the one that clashed the reverse. I need to study the obverse more closely tho.

I can't see it being die polishing, I hope it is a clash as we all would for our coins generally speaking. I noticed that the lines are straight, and I've never seen polishing lines being exactly straight and at the exact same angle from the inside to the outside of the 5. This would indicate to me that it is clashed with the obverse of the coin. It is your typical 1868 non 68 reverse with the exception of what I believe are clash marks from the shield.Thanks to all for the help.

That was why I said it might have been a rotated die when it was clashed. I have my doubt it is polishing as the lines match width, thickness and direction. Unfortunately it's easy to see when in hand, but the photo doesn't help. I have to buy equipment in order to get better photos When polishing, the lines will vary will they not? They wouldn't be consistent from the inside of the coin to the back outside would they? I'm not trying to see something that isn't there, I've rotated the die on overlay and they match up with the shield, hence the question. It would be an off center rotated die clash if so. Maybe I can submit it for attribution to someone.

Based on the overlays, I think the lines on the OP's coin are too widely spaced.

Try Howard Spindel, you will find his email address at the bottom of his website http://www.shieldnickels.net/

But frankly the line points coming off the 5 are the result of eiter chipping of the dies during hubbing (unlikely) or the result of work done to themin removal of clashmarks etc. They are not uncommon and are found on different years and many different dies. The particular pattern of points may help to identify a particular die, but any subsequent die polishing would probably change the pattern.