Design and Specifications of the Three Cent Nickel

The Three Cent Nickel was introduced in 1865 to replace the silver three-cent piece, which had become scarce due to hoarding during the Civil War. It was designed by James B. Longacre and was intended to facilitate the purchase of postage stamps and small transactions. The coin’s production overlapped with the Three Cent Silver for several years before becoming the sole three-cent denomination until its discontinuation in 1889.
Weight 1.94 grams
Diameter 17.9 mm
Mint Marks No mint marks used; all were minted in Philadelphia
Composition 75% copper, 25% nickel
Obverse Design Liberty head facing left, wearing a coronet inscribed with 'LIBERTY'
Reverse Design Roman numeral III within a wreath of corn, wheat, and cotton
Years of Minting 1865-1889

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Three Cent Nickels significantly impacts their value, with uncirculated specimens commanding substantial premiums. Proof issues, particularly from the later years of the series, are highly sought after by collectors. The 1877 and 1878 issues are considered key dates due to their extremely low mintages. Additionally, the 1887/6 overdate variety is a notable error that adds considerable value to the coin.
1877 Philadelphia 510 minted; extremely rare in all grades
1878 Philadelphia 2,350 minted; very scarce
1885 Philadelphia 1,000 minted; rare in all grades
1886 Philadelphia 4,290 minted; scarce
1887/6 Philadelphia Overdate variety; rare and valuable in higher grades

Explore Three Cent Nickel Values by Year

1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889

Most Valuable Three Cent Nickel

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1865 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $185.00 –
1867 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $185.00 –
1868 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $185.00 –
1866 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $185.00 –
1870 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $185.00 –
1865 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $700.00 – $850.00 –
1881 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $185.00 –
1869 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $185.00 –
1873 3 Cents Nickel Open 3 (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $275.00 –
1875 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $250.00 –
1872 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $235.00 –
1881 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $225.00 – $275.00 –
1871 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $250.00 –
1880 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $525.00 –
1869 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $250.00 – $300.00 –
1873 3 Cents Nickel Closed 3 (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $250.00 –
1874 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $185.00 –
1884 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $1,000.00 – $6,750.00 –
1866 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) – $300.00 – $7,000.00
1867 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) – $400.00 – $6,500.00
1868 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $225.00 – $325.00 –
1870 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $200.00 – $275.00 –
1880 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $80.00 – $275.00 –
1885 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $1,500.00 – $4,500.00 –
1871 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $200.00 – $275.00 –
1872 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $200.00 – $275.00 –
1874 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) – $300.00 – $6,500.00
1885 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $85.00 – $275.00 –
1888 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $325.00 –
1889 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $125.00 – $385.00 –
1875 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $200.00 – $275.00 –
1870 3 Cents Nickel DDO & RPD FS-101 (Regular Strike) $75.00 – $235.00 –
1876 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $325.00 –
1879 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $400.00 –
1882 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $150.00 – $550.00 –
1883 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $350.00 – $2,000.00 –
1887 3 Cents Nickel (Regular Strike) $350.00 – $1,050.00 –
1873 3 Cents Nickel Closed 3 (Proof) $225.00 – $275.00 –
1876 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $200.00 – $275.00 –
1877 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $1,400.00 – $2,150.00 –
1878 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $800.00 – $985.00 –
1879 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $80.00 – $275.00 –
1882 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $125.00 – $275.00 –
1883 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $85.00 – $275.00 –
1884 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $70.00 – $275.00 –
1886 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $350.00 – $485.00 –
1887/(6) 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $80.00 – $325.00 –
1887/6 3 Cents Nickel Strong Overdate (Proof) $400.00 – $585.00 –
1888 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $150.00 – $275.00 –
1889 3 Cents Nickel (Proof) $100.00 – $275.00 –
1865 3 Cents Nickel MPD FS-301 (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $300.00 –
1865 3 Cents Nickel RPD FS-304 (Regular Strike) $200.00 –
1865 3 Cents Nickel DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) – $750.00
1869 3 Cents Nickel RPD FS-302 (Regular Strike) $75.00 –
1869 3 Cents Nickel DDR FS-801 (Regular Strike) – $2,000.00
1875 3 Cents Nickel MPD FS-301 (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $300.00 –
1887/6 3 Cents Nickel Overdate FS-301 (Regular Strike) – $2,750.00
1865 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $2,750.00 – $20,000.00
1865 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $5,000.00 – $40,000.00
1866 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $600.00 – $7,500.00
1866 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $2,000.00 – $20,000.00
1867 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $10,000.00
1867 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $1,750.00 – $6,000.00
1868 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $550.00 – $8,500.00
1868 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $1,750.00 – $5,000.00
1869 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $500.00 – $8,500.00
1869 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $850.00 – $15,000.00
1870 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $525.00 – $9,000.00
1870 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $3,000.00 – $20,000.00
1871 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $18,500.00
1871 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $22,500.00
1872 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $525.00 – $6,000.00
1872 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $3,500.00 – $8,500.00
1873 3 Cents Nickel Closed 3, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $10,000.00
1874 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $9,000.00
1874 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $1,750.00 – $12,500.00
1875 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $850.00 – $4,500.00
1875 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $10,000.00 – $15,000.00
1875 3 Cents Nickel MPD FS-301 (Proof) – $450.00 – $1,000.00
1876 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $6,500.00
1876 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $2,000.00 – $8,500.00
1877 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $2,500.00 – $12,500.00
1877 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $4,500.00 – $12,500.00
1878 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $1,100.00 – $12,500.00
1878 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $4,000.00 – $17,500.00
1879 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $525.00 – $7,000.00
1879 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $20,000.00
1880 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $525.00 – $6,000.00
1881 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $525.00 – $15,000.00
1881 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $1,750.00 – $20,000.00
1882 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $20,000.00
1882 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $1,500.00 – $9,000.00
1883 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $7,000.00
1883 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $7,500.00 – $22,500.00
1884 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $20,000.00
1884 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $4,500.00 – $20,000.00
1885 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $525.00 – $17,500.00
1885 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $5,500.00
1886 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $525.00 – $6,000.00
1886 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $5,500.00
1887/(6) 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $550.00 – $5,500.00
1887/6 3 Cents Nickel Strong Overdate, CAM (Proof) – $750.00 – $6,000.00
1887/6 3 Cents Nickel Strong Overdate FS-302 (Proof) – $600.00 – $3,000.00
1887/6 3 Cents Nickel Strong Overdate FS-302, CAM (Proof) – $750.00 – $4,000.00
1888 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $8,500.00
1888 3 Cents Nickel, DCAM (Proof) – $850.00 – $25,000.00
1889 3 Cents Nickel, CAM (Proof) – $450.00 – $13,000.00

Sharing is caring!

Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *