The 1876 Shield Nickel is a great type coin because it is both very common in most grades and has a far lower mintage (just over 2.5 million) than earlier type coin issues. Affordable and accessible up to the finest grades because this relatively low mintage does not command a premium until high gem grades. Die cracks are frequently seen on this date but so is high-quality luster, which can be found with a bit of searching.