1868 Shield Nickel - SHD-5c-1868-01 Shattered Die

Description

Produced during the early Reconstruction era, this 1868 Shield Nickel preserves a shattered die cataloged by Cuds on Coins. By 1868, the Shield Nickel had entered its No Rays phase, a modification made early in 1867 to reduce die breakage. A shattered die represents the terminal stage of die deterioration, where an interconnected network of cracks spreads across the die face until virtually the entire surface is fractured. Unlike isolated die cracks that affect limited areas, a shattered die produces a web of raised lines across the struck coin, giving the surface a fractured-glass appearance. The Shield Nickel's high-relief design and the hardness of the copper-nickel alloy placed heavy demands on working dies. Struck in 75% copper and 25% nickel, this coin documents the complete structural failure of its parent die.

Cross References

• Cross reference number: none. 06/29/2020.

External References