The Shield Nickel was the first nickel minted in the United States and was minted from 1866 to 1883. 

Designed by James Longacre, the Shield Nickel featured a distinct design that captivated the public's attention. The obverse showcased a shield with thirteen stars representing the original thirteen colonies, while the reverse featured the denomination encircled by laurel wreaths. The nickel proved difficult to strike and the reverse design was modified in 1867. Even so, production difficulties continued, causing many minor varieties which are collected today. 

Minting of the Shield Nickel for circulation was suspended in 1876 for a period of over two years due to an abundance of low-denomination coinage, and it was struck in only small quantities until 1882.