I went looking for a Flying Eagle cent but found this instead. It's my first and only Shield Nickel. I paid the current FMV for a F12, around $34 but with tax etc. ended up $36. Always wanted one. My collection centers on coins I have found from circulation, but you won't ever see one of these from circ. Yes, I have inherited many coins but only purchased a few. So, for me, this is a landmark day for collecting over a 63 year span. Enjoy, my friends. I found it at a local flea market.
Please take this the right way, but the coin is corroded. Nickels turn brown or black when they corrode. Once in a great while, you will see some green. The surfaces end up pitted as they are on this coin. Look at a decent nickel in your pocket, and search for that look when you decided to buy your next one. The surfaces of the coin should be white or gray. Once in a while you will get some colorful toning, but that is really only for Mint State and Proof pieces. The Shield Nickel is not a rare type coin. There are some tough dates and varieties, like the 1877 and '78 which are Proof only dates. This one is Mint State, but a circulated one should have a similar look.
