Shield Nickels (1866-1883) - No Rays (1867-1883) – The No Rays Shield Nickel was designed by James Longacre and produced from 1867 until 1883 when the issue gave way to Charles Barber’s Liberty design. The “No Rays” nickel variety features the Shield motif obverse used by Longacre’s two cent piece, and the reverse bears a large “5” encircled by stars along with the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and CENTS. The coins were struck on planchets made of .750 copper and .250 nickel which is the same composition as the nickels in circulation today. The more common of the two Shield Nickel types, the No Rays Nickel maintains demand among type collectors who seek clean spot free examples.