1873 Shield Nickel Value Checker: Errors List & No Mint Mark Worth

Midway through 1873, the Philadelphia Mint replaced its date punch after chief coiner A. Loudon Snowden complained that the numeral “3” too closely resembled an “8,” giving rise to two distinct varieties: the Closed 3 and the Open 3. That single die change created a lasting divide in collector demand and price.

A circulated Open 3 starts around $45 in Good condition, while a Mint State Closed 3 can reach $1,366 — and a Cameo Proof pushes nearly $1,000. In June 2025, a PCGS MS-67 Open 3 set a new auction record of $15,600 at Stack’s Bowers Galleries, proving that top-grade examples are still rewriting the market ceiling.

A gap that wide doesn’t happen by accident. Cracking the logic behind 1873 Shield Nickel Value starts with knowing which variety you have — and that’s just the beginning.

 

1873 Shield Nickel Value By Variety

The table below breaks down 1873 Shield Nickel values across four types and five grade levels. If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Nickels Worth Money (Most Expensive)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1873 Shield Nickel Worth Money

The auction record from June 2025 reshapes the conversation about 1873 Shield Nickel Value at the top end. A PCGS MS-67 Open 3 realized $15,600 at Stack’s Bowers Galleries — a confirmed record price for the issue and a clear signal of where elite collector demand now sits.

That result displaced the previous benchmark and introduced a critical lesson: population scarcity at the very top of the grade spectrum drives prices far beyond what any standard price guide anticipates. When only a single example holds a given grade, the market functions as a pure auction between motivated collectors — and guide values become irrelevant.

The Lg/Sm 3 FS-1301 variety warrants particular attention. Sustained realizations across MS-62 through MS-65 — ranging from $9,600 to $19,388 — indicate a market with genuine depth at multiple grade points.

The PR-67 Closed 3 Proof realizing $7,931 exposes a numismatic pattern worth understanding: in series where high-grade circulation strikes are dramatically rarer than their proof counterparts, the market consistently reprices mint-state coins above proofs, inverting the conventional premium structure.

 

History of the 1873 Shield Nickel Value and Its Origins

The Shield Nickel was the first U.S. five-cent coin struck in a copper-nickel alloy — replacing the silver half dime that had circulated since 1792. Designed by Chief Engraver James Longacre, the coin was introduced in 1866, with its obverse shield representing the strength and unity of the post-Civil War nation.

The series owed its copper-nickel composition to a deliberate lobbying effort. Industrialist Joseph Wharton — who held significant mining interests in nickel — successfully advocated in Congress for coins using the metal, establishing the financial foundation that would sustain the Shield Nickel’s entire production run.

Production difficulties plagued the series from the start. The hard copper-nickel planchets caused dies to wear and crack prematurely, and the reverse design was modified in 1867 — rays between the stars were removed — in an attempt to ease striking, though problems persisted throughout the run.

1873 marked a turning point for the series on two fronts. The Mint Act of 1873 formally ended production of the silver half dime, cementing the Shield Nickel’s position as the sole five-cent piece in circulation. The same act also granted the Mint Director authority to suspend production of any denomination deemed unnecessary — a provision that would later halt Shield Nickel output entirely in 1876, with no circulation strikes produced in 1877 or 1878.

That same year, a date logotype error divided production into two varieties. Chief coiner A. Loudon Snowden formally complained that the loops of the “3” in the original punch sat so close together that the date could be mistaken for 1878. A corrected logotype was introduced later in the year, spacing the arms of the numeral further apart — creating the Closed 3 and Open 3 varieties that define collector interest in the date today.

Also Read: Top 60+ Most Valuable Buffalo Nickels Worth Money

 

Is Your 1873 Shield Nickel Rare? Rarity by Variety

The 1873 Shield Nickel has a rarity score waiting to be uncovered — the Coin Value Checker App delivers it instantly and personalized to your exact coin.

 

Key Features of the 1873 Shield Nickel Value Coin

Next, we’ll look at the key features of the 1873 Shield Nickel, which can help with grading and identifying real nickels from fakes. By knowing these features, you can also identify which Shield Nickels are worth serious money.

The Obverse of the 1873 Shield Nickel

The obverse centers on a large heraldic shield — the design element from which the entire series takes its name — representing the strength and unity of the post-Civil War nation. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST arches across the upper field, while two crossed arrows behind the shield symbolize the nation’s readiness for defense.

Olive branches flank either side of the shield, their leaf clusters rising toward the rim as a classical symbol of peace. An ornate frame borders the shield’s interior, which is divided by alternating horizontal and vertical stripes in high relief.

Crowning the composition is a cross atop the shield, its central annulet among the first details to show wear on circulated examples. Because the copper-nickel alloy was especially hard on dies, even sharp Mint State examples can show subtle softness on the shield’s highest points — something to look for when grading.

The date appears in small numerals just below the shield — deliberately compact, and on 1873 coins, the source of the series’ most consequential die variety.

The Reverse of the 1873 Shield Nickel

The reverse is anchored by a bold numeral 5 at center, encircled by thirteen stars representing the original states. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA runs along the upper rim, with the word CENTS inscribed at the base, the two separated by a period on each side.

By 1873, the rays that originally appeared between the stars had already been removed — eliminated in 1867 when they proved too demanding on the dies — leaving a cleaner, more open field around the denomination. On well-struck examples, the definition of each star and the separation of letters in the legend are reliable indicators of overall strike quality.

Other Features of the 1873 Shield Nickel

The 1873 Shield Nickel weighs 5 grams and measures 20.5mm in diameter, struck in a 75% copper, 25% nickel alloy at the Philadelphia Mint — the only facility to produce Shield Nickels throughout the entire series. The coin carries a plain edge with fine denticles along both rims.

It bears no mint mark, since Philadelphia did not mark its coins during this era. All 1873 Shield Nickels — Open 3, Closed 3, and Proof — were struck at a single facility, making mint mark attribution a non-factor for this series.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Money List (1938-Present)

 

1873 Shield Nickel Value: Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia’s total 1873 Shield Nickel production is estimated at approximately 4.5 million pieces across both varieties combined. Exact production figures for the Open 3 and Closed 3 separately remain unverified — a common reality for mid-19th century coinage, where the Mint did not consistently distinguish variety-specific output in its annual reports.

The Open 3 accounts for the largest share of known survivors at roughly 5,000 pieces, with the Closed 3 trailing at approximately 1,500 — a ratio that reflects its mid-year replacement rather than any difference in original strike quality. Some estimates suggest the Open 3 is as much as ten times more common than the Closed 3 in uncirculated grades.

The Proof issue carries a documented mintage of 1,100 with an estimated 950 survivors, posting a survival rate of 86% — exceptionally high, and entirely consistent with how deliberately preserved collector pieces behave across 19th-century U.S. coinage. Shield nickel proof mintages from before 1878 are modern estimates and can vary by source, as Mint officials occasionally reused supposedly destroyed dies to strike pieces for favored collectors.

The Cameo Proof (CAM) subset, drawn from the same 1,100 mintage, carries unknown survivor figures, since CAM designation was not a contemporaneous classification but a retroactive grading standard applied much later.

Also Read: Jefferson Nickel Value (1938-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1873 Shield Nickel Value

Pinning down an accurate value for your 1873 Shield Nickel comes down to three variables: variety, grade, and surface quality. A Closed 3 in Fine condition trades at a fundamentally different level than an Open 3 in the same grade — and a single point on the Sheldon scale can mean hundreds of dollars in either direction.

The Coin Value Checker App cuts through that complexity, delivering an instant, attribution-aware valuation based on current market data rather than outdated price guides.

 

1873 Shield Nickel Value Guides by Variety

Variety attribution is where 1873 Shield Nickel valuation either starts or stalls. The four types struck that year sit at different points on the rarity spectrum — and the market prices them accordingly.

• 1873 Open 3 Shield Nickel
• 1873 Closed 3 Shield Nickel
• 1873 Proof Shield Nickel
• 1873 Cameo Proof Shield Nickel

 

1873 Open 3 Shield Nickel Value

The Open 3 is the corrected variety — struck after the Philadelphia Mint revised its date logotype mid-year following the formal complaint by chief coiner A. Loudon Snowden. On these coins, the serifs of the numeral “3” are visibly spaced apart, eliminating any risk of misreading the date as 1878.

It is the more common of the two 1873 varieties. PCGS had certified 222 examples across all grades as of their 2011 population snapshot, making it roughly 3.4 times more represented in the certified census than the Closed 3.

Survival estimates suggest around 500 uncirculated examples exist across all Mint State grades. Most uncirculated survivors fall in the MS-60 to MS-63 range, with approximately 150 examples at MS-64 and about 50 at MS-65.

From MS-65 onward, the population thins dramatically: fewer than 10 examples are known at MS-66, and the single MS-67 — the absolute population ceiling — realized a confirmed record of $15,600 at Stack’s Bowers Galleries in June 2025. That result represents the new high-water mark for the Open 3 in any grade, and it underscores how exponential the premium curve becomes when certified survivors fall to a single coin.

Prices track predictably through mid-grades, then accelerate sharply as certified survivors thin out above MS-65.

Demand at all levels remained stable, making Open 3 increasingly popular throughout its market activity.

 

1873 Closed 3 Shield Nickel Value

The Closed 3 is the earlier and scarcer of the two varieties, struck before the Mint identified and corrected the date punch problem. The loops of the “3” curl so tightly inward that the numeral reads convincingly as an “8” — a flaw significant enough to prompt an official complaint and mid-year die replacement.

PCGS had certified just 66 examples across all grades as of 2011, making it one of the lower-population circulation strikes in the entire Shield Nickel series. The Closed 3 is believed to be up to ten times rarer than the Open 3 in uncirculated grades, based on both census data and survival estimates.

Among certified examples, MS-64 is the most frequently encountered Mint State grade. The finest known pieces — just a small handful — reach MS-66 territory, making any appearance above MS-65 a legitimate numismatic event.

The population disparity between the Closed 3 and Open 3 is not simply a function of lower original output. Closed 3 coins spent the full circulation lifespan of the issue in active use with no distinguishing recognition from the public — attrition was indiscriminate. High-grade survivors are genuinely rare, and at MS-65 and above, the Closed 3 transitions from a scarce coin into a condition rarity where auction appearances are measured in years rather than months.

Every auction appearance for a top-grade Closed 3 is an event in itself.

Market activity has trended meaningfully upward over the past year, reflecting growing collector interest rather than isolated auction-driven spikes.

 

1873 Proof Shield Nickel Value

Every known 1873 Proof Shield Nickel is struck with the Closed 3 date — the same logotype defect that affected all earliest 1873 proof coinage across multiple denominations. No Open 3 Proof has ever been discovered, making this the only 1873 variety where the date question is settled by default.

A “Proof” coin, for anyone new to collecting, is a specially made coin struck for collectors rather than circulation. The dies are highly polished to produce mirror-like fields, and the coin is struck multiple times under high pressure to bring out fine detail. On the 1873 Shield Nickel, the hard copper-nickel alloy made achieving clean proof surfaces structurally more difficult than on silver coinage, which is reflected in the relatively modest certified population at top grades.

Pastel rainbow toning is a documented surface characteristic of the series — not a defect, but a naturally developed patina that advanced collectors actively pursue as evidence of originality and undisturbed surfaces.

The finest certified pieces by PCGS reach just PR-67+ with only one example recorded at that level. A PR-67 example realized $7,931 at Heritage Auctions in June 2013, which remains the documented high-water mark for the issue in the open market.

A single PR-67 sale at Heritage Auctions in 2013 set the ceiling — and nothing since has come close to challenging it.

Market activity peaked in September 2025 and has since settled into a modest pullback — a normalization pattern, not a demand signal worth reading into.

 

1873 CAM Shield Nickel Value

The Cameo designation — abbreviated as CAM — identifies proof coins where the raised design elements carry a frosted, satiny texture in direct contrast against mirror-polished fields. This surface quality is produced exclusively by fresh, unpolished dies at the very beginning of a proof striking run. As dies accumulate use, the frost transfers to the fields and the cameo contrast disappears, which is why true cameo surfaces are tied to early die state and low sequential strike position.

On copper-nickel coinage, achieving and preserving that contrast is structurally harder than on silver. The alloy’s physical properties resist the sharp die-to-field differentiation that cameo surfaces require, and the frosting that does develop tends to be shallower and more fragile.

Among 1873 Proof Shield Nickels, Cameos account for just over 15% of the certified population — a meaningful underrepresentation compared to silver proof issues of the same era. No Deep Cameo (DCAM) example has ever appeared on the market: that absence is not a gap in the record but a metallurgical reality. The finest certified examples reach PR-67+CAM, with just one piece recorded at that level by PCGS.

Cameo Proof coins live and die by auction — it is the only venue where surface quality, eye appeal, and population scarcity collide in real time to produce a true market price. The records below reflect exactly that.

Real-time market activity tells the most honest story about what a 1873 CAM Nickel actually commands.

Also Read: 22 Rare Nickel Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1873 Shield Nickel Error List and Values

Even within a series already defined by variety complexity, the 1873 Shield Nickel produces a distinct category of errors that carry their own collector premiums. Here are the most significant ones to know.

1. Doubled Die Obverse (DDO)

A Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) occurs when the die receives two hub impressions that don’t perfectly align — leaving a ghosted doubling visible on design elements. On the 1873 Shield Nickel DDO, the doubling is most pronounced on the cross and annulet at the top of the shield, where an initial hub impression landed southeast of the final one.

What makes this variety particularly notable is its discovery history. Despite the Shield Nickel series being extensively studied, this specific DDO went undetected until a coin was submitted to NGC for attribution. NGC Research Director David W. Lange confirmed it as a previously unknown variety, assigning it VarietyPlus number VP-011 and Spindel reference SNV 1873 S2-1005.

As a newly documented variety with limited attributed examples, pricing remains fluid. NGC-attributed DDO Shield Nickels in comparable grades have historically traded at significant multiples of their unattributed counterparts, with premiums driven by attribution scarcity and the inherent rarity of finding the 1873 date in Mint State at all.

2. Lamination Error

Lamination flaws occur when impurities such as dirt or foreign material become trapped in metal sheets during the rolling process. The resulting weakness causes portions of the coin’s surface to peel, flake, or lift away after striking.

On the 1873 Shield Nickel, the copper-nickel alloy’s layered composition made it particularly susceptible to this defect. The most dramatic and collectible form is the single-sided lamination, where one face retains its struck surface while the other exposes the raw copper core beneath.

Eye appeal and the extent of the peel determine the premium. A well-documented 1873 Shield Nickel in MS-61 with an obverse lamination sold for $850 in a 2019 auction, demonstrating the tangible value collectors place on visible, well-preserved lamination errors.

3. Clipped Planchet Error

Clipped planchet errors result when the steel rods used to punch out planchets from metal strips overlap a portion of the strip already punched, removing a section of the blank before it reaches the dies. The result is a coin with a visibly missing section at its edge.

On the 1873 Shield Nickel, clips can present as straight, curved, or ragged, with curved clips — caused by overlapping a previously punched hole — considered the most diagnostically clean and desirable. Size is the primary value driver: minor clips add a modest premium, while large, dramatic clips that visibly distort the coin’s shape command significantly more.

A 1873 Shield Nickel graded MS-60 with a large clipped planchet error realized $800 at Heritage Auctions in 2010.

4. Rim Cud Error

Die cuds occur when a piece of the die’s edge breaks away, leaving a void that fills with metal during striking and produces a raised, blob-like area along the coin’s rim. Think of it as a small metal bubble fused to the coin’s edge — impossible to miss once you know what you’re looking for.

On the 1873 Shield Nickel, rim cuds are among the more visually accessible errors for new collectors — they require no magnification to identify and are immediately apparent on the coin’s periphery. Larger cuds, particularly those that obliterate rim denticles or encroach on design elements, carry the strongest premiums.

A Fine-grade 1873 Shield Nickel with a prominent rim cud sold for $250 on eBay in 2006 — a meaningful premium over a problem-free example at the same grade level, driven entirely by the error’s size and placement.

5. 1873 Large/Small 3 Date Variety (FS-1301)

The Large/Small 3, designated FS-1301 in the Cherrypickers’ Guide and also referenced as Fletcher-106, represents one of the most technically compelling varieties in the entire Shield Nickel series. The term “FS” stands for Fivaz-Stanton, the authors of the Cherrypickers’ Guide, which is the standard reference for documenting significant die varieties in U.S. coinage.

The error originated when a large-format date punch was used to begin the logotype, then partially overwritten by a smaller punch — leaving both impressions visible on the finished die. The key diagnostic for confirming this variety lies in the numeral “1” of the date, where a full triangular notch at the lower section is fully attached to the “8” — a feature absent on both the standard Open 3 and Closed 3 strikes.

Auction results for this variety demonstrate exceptional depth across multiple grade levels. An MS-65 example realized $19,388 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in July 2018; an MS-64 CAC example brought $17,625 at Heritage in January 2015; and an AU-58 example realized $13,800 in 2011. These figures confirm that the Lg/Sm 3 commands a substantial premium at virtually every grade.

 

Where to Sell Your 1873 Shield Nickel?

Now that you’ve determined your coin’s worth, are you wondering about the best online platforms to sell it? I’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide to these websites, complete with detailed descriptions, advantages, and drawbacks.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

FAQ about 1873 Shield Nickel Value

1. How do I tell the difference between the Open 3 and Closed 3 on my 1873 Shield Nickel?

Use a magnifying glass and focus on the last digit of the date. On the Closed 3, the serifs curl so tightly inward that the numeral reads almost like an “8.” On the Open 3, the arms of the “3” are visibly spaced apart. The distinction is subtle but critical — it’s the single most important factor in determining your coin’s variety and value.

2. What is the current auction record for a 1873 Shield Nickel?

The current auction record for the Open 3 is $15,600 for a PCGS MS-67 example sold at Stack’s Bowers Galleries in June 2025. For the Closed 3, the highest recorded sale is $35,250 for an MS-67 example. These records reflect the extreme rarity of population-topping specimens, where a single certified coin defines the entire market ceiling.

3. Does grade matter more than variety when pricing a 1873 Shield Nickel?

Both matter, but at the top of the grade spectrum, variety takes over. A Closed 3 in MS-65 and an Open 3 in MS-65 price very differently — and above MS-65, population figures become so thin that standard price guides lose relevance entirely. Realized auction prices are the only reliable benchmark at that level.

4. Are 1873 Shield Nickels with errors worth more than standard varieties?

Yes, but only when the error is properly attributed and visually compelling. A lamination or clipped planchet error on an already scarce 1873 date adds a tangible premium — sometimes doubling or tripling the base value. Unattributed errors rarely command the same prices as certified examples, so third-party grading by PCGS or NGC is strongly recommended before selling.

5. Why do Proof 1873 Shield Nickels sometimes sell for less than Mint State circulation strikes?

Because proofs were deliberately preserved, their survival rates are far higher than circulation strikes. High-grade Mint State examples of the Closed 3 are genuinely rarer than most Proof grades — and the market prices accordingly, inverting the conventional assumption that Proof always commands a premium.

6. Who complained about the date on the 1873 Shield Nickel, and why does it matter?

Chief coiner A. Loudon Snowden formally complained to Mint Director Henry Linderman that the “3” in the original 1873 date punch was too easily confused with an “8.” His complaint triggered the mid-year die change that created the two varieties. Knowing this history helps explain why the Closed 3 — the error variety — is scarcer: it was only struck during the first portion of the year before the correction was made.

7. Is the 1873 Shield Nickel No Mint Mark normal?

Yes, completely normal. The Philadelphia Mint did not place a mint mark on its coins during this era, and the Shield Nickel was struck exclusively in Philadelphia throughout its entire production run from 1866 to 1883. All 1873 Shield Nickels — Open 3, Closed 3, and Proof — are Philadelphia issues with no mint mark. The absence of a mint mark is not an error and does not add value.

8. What does “Cameo” mean on a Proof coin, and how rare is it on the 1873 Shield Nickel?

Cameo (CAM) describes a proof coin where the raised design elements have a frosted, almost chalky texture that contrasts sharply against the mirror-polished fields. It’s created by fresh dies at the beginning of a proof run and disappears as the dies wear. On the 1873 Shield Nickel, true Cameo examples account for just over 15% of the certified proof population, and no Deep Cameo (DCAM) example has ever been confirmed — making any CAM-designated 1873 Shield Nickel a genuinely scarce find.

9. What is the Mint Act of 1873, and how did it affect this coin?

The Mint Act of 1873 — sometimes called the “Crime of ’73” by silver advocates — was sweeping legislation that reorganized U.S. coinage law. For the Shield Nickel specifically, it ended production of the silver half dime, officially making the Shield Nickel the only five-cent piece in circulation. The act also granted the Mint Director authority to suspend production of any denomination not needed by commerce — a power that halted Shield Nickel circulation strikes entirely in 1876, leaving 1877 and 1878 as proof-only years.

10. Is it worth getting a 1873 Shield Nickel professionally graded?

For any coin showing Mint State surfaces, variety attribution, or visible errors, third-party grading by PCGS or NGC is strongly recommended. On the 1873 date especially, variety attribution on the label — Closed 3, Open 3, or Lg/Sm 3 FS-1301 — directly affects realized value, and an unattributed coin in a raw holder will almost always sell below its certified equivalent. The cost of certification is easily recovered on any example above Fine condition.