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1883/2 Overdate
This shield nickel variety is one of the most frequently faked coins, according to ShieldNickels.net. The name of this coin comes from the overlay of dates that are stamped on the backside of the coin beneath the shield. In 1883, Mint employees decided not to completely replace their coin dies. Instead, they simply ground off the 1882 date by hand and refashioned the 1883 date. This wasn't always done to perfection and with many of the dies, the underlying "2" is visible beneath the "3." There are at least five recognizable overdate dies. They can be distinguished through markings like cracks in the die, how pronounced the "2" is beneath the "3" and the placement of the date in comparison with the shield. Faked overdate coins do not display the specific markings caused by the original dies. This is why it is important for coin collectors to familiarize themselves with the markings.
With Rays
The first shield nickel was released in 1866. The front of this coin displays the numerical "5" in the middle of a circle of stars and rays. "United States of America" was printed above the circle of stars and below it was the word "cents." This design proved troublesome for the 21st century minting machines and had to be revised. In 1867, the coin was reproduced without the rays between the stars. This makes the 1866/1877 coins with the rays rare and especially valuable among shield nickels.
Double Die Obverse
The shield nickel is slightly smaller in diameter than other traditional nickels, according to the Shield Nickels website. This creates a difference in striking pressure when stamping the coin. The dies used to make shield nickels wore out quickly. The die makers worked quickly to try and keep up with demand and quality control suffered because of this. This produced a variety of die inconsistencies that have become collectible, such as the double die obverse. This is like a rubber stamp that someone accidentally lifts up and then presses down again, causing two images to appear in the shadow of each other. This effect is most notorious on the 1873 Cherrypickers Guide FS-008.3 and Fletcher F-113. This is a "no rays" coin on which two amulets are seen side by side. This double die coin is especially valued because the images appear side by side and not on top of one another like double die shield nickels.