 Wharton and others seeking to promote the use of nickel remained powerful in Congress , and in 1866 secured authorization for a five @-@ cent coin of copper nickel . Longacre prepared a number of designs ; Pollock selected Longacre 's design of a shield ( similar to the two @-@ cent piece ) and a starry circle for the reverse , and the Shield nickel began to be struck that year . Mint Assayer William DuBois wrote to Longacre , " it is truly pleasing to see a man pass the life of three score and ten and yet be able to produce the same artistic works as in earlier days . " 
