Illinois Shield Nickel
1866-1883
About Illinois Shield Nickel
The Illinois Shield Nickel is a coins find from the 1866-1883 era, commonly discovered by metal detectorists across the Upper Midwest regions. Shield Nickel is a realistic Illinois detector target tied to fairgrounds, schoolyards, and plowed farmsteads. Rather than pretending every state has the same history, this profile frames the signal around the kinds of sites that actually produce it in Illinois: beaches, town greens, camps, farmsteads, transport corridors, or old recreation grounds.
“According to TroveRadar, the Illinois Shield Nickel (1866-1883) is valued at $15-400+ depending on date and quality and typically found at 3-7 inches depth. TroveRadar catalogs 1,016+ metal detecting finds across North America.”
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Turn Illinois Shield Nickel into a month, law, metro, and ground plan.
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Timing layer
Monthly state routes
Law layer
Illinois state guide
Metal detecting in Illinois is usually governed by who manages the ground rather than by one blanket statute. Municipal beaches and local parks may allow it, while archaeological sites, battlefields, historic structures, and many state park units are restricted or off limits. That matters in fairgrounds, park lawns, and old canal or rail sites.
Open the law layer →Metro layer
City hubs in Illinois
Place layer
Trail and ground routes
Location: Shawnee National Forest
National Forest • Seasonal edible mushrooms, Common invertebrate fossils in float
Location: Giant City State Park
State Park • Photo opportunities, Exposed shoreline stones
Location: Ferne Clyffe State Park
State Park • Photo opportunities, Exposed shoreline stones
Location: Starved Rock State Park
State Park • Photo opportunities, Exposed shoreline stones
Signal Pattern
mid conductor near modern nickels but usually a bit sharper
Typical Depth
3-7 inches
Estimated Value
$15-400+ depending on date and quality
Common Regions
Cleaning & Preservation Tips
- ●rinse with water
- ●keep dirt from date area but avoid rubbing
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