The 1870 5C Shield Nickel is a piece of US coinage composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel. It was minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the year 1870. This particular coin is a business strike and is a part of the Shield series, which was produced from 1866 to 1883. The design of the coin features a shield on the obverse and a wreath on the reverse, representing the United States during that period.