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 1,230+ metal detecting finds across North America.”
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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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