View All 1868 Shield Nickel

1868 Shield Nickel - Brunk T-190 C. Thomas

Strike Type

Coin Details

Year
1868
Denomination
Nickel
Strike Type
Regular Strike
Series
Shield Nickels 1866-1883
Designer
James Barton Longacre
Composition
75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Weight
5g
Diameter
20.5mm
Edge
Plain

Value Estimates

$38 - $281

Values as of May 2026, from published price guides and, in some cases, recorded auction sales. For most coins the range runs from a well-worn example (around G-4) to an uncirculated one, but individual coins can sell for more or less depending on grade, eye appeal and demand. Compare recent sales of similar coins for a closer estimate.

Description

This 1868 Shield Nickel bears a merchant counterstamp attributed to C. Thomas, cataloged as Brunk T-190. Counterstamps were applied to circulating coins by merchants, silversmiths, and tradesmen as a form of portable advertising — the business card of early America. Many merchants used coin counterstamping to advertise their trade. The host coin is a 1868 nickel from the Shield Nickels 1866-1883 series. Struck in 75% copper, 25% nickel, 20.5 mm in diameter. Cataloged as PCGS #919166. Counterstamped coins documented in Gregory G. Brunk's "American and Canadian Countermarked Coins" sit at the intersection of numismatics and Americana — each piece is a primary-source historical document of early American commerce. The counterstamp adds a unique layer of provenance that distinguishes this coin from all other examples of its type.

External References

Error Varieties

No listings found

This category doesn't have any child listings yet.

Other Strike Types in This Series

Collector Essentials

Tools and references for building and protecting your coin collection.

As an Amazon Associate, NumisDex earns from qualifying purchases.