1867 is a key date for shield nickels, which were minted from 1866 to 1883, but when the 1867 coin was set to be issued, a variety of rays surrounding the numeral 5 on the reverse were to be removed.

The nickel has a long history in U.S. money, though it wasn’t the country’s first 5-cent coin. That honor goes ... These first nickels were known as “Shield nickels” and were produced ...