1866 Shield Nickel. Rays. Proof-66 Cameo (NGC).Charming Gem surfaces are untoned apart from blushes of faint silver iridescence that are more prominent on the reverse. Fully struck throughout with bold field to device contrast. Perennially popular for type purposes, the 1866 is not only the first Proof nickel five-cent piece in U.S. coinage history, but it is also one of just two issues of the brief Shield, Rays design type. With the Proof 1867 Rays a legendary (and costly) rarity, the 1866 Rays is the only realistically obtainable type candidate in this format as far as more collectors are concerned. This is an uncommonly well produced and preserved survivor from an unknown mintage that Q. David Bowers (2006) estimates at 800 to 1,200 coins.
