Nickel Three Cents

Nickel Three Cent Coin Value

The nickel three cent coin value ranges from $1 to $100,000 depending on the quality of the coin, which year it was minted in, which mint it was manufactured at, and its strike type.

1873 Nickel Three Cents Obverse

1873 Nickel Three Cents Reverse

Nickel Three Cent Coin Overview / History

The American Civil War saw a scarcity of US coinage due to fear and uncertainty. The scarcity was so extreme that even the Flying Eagle Penny disappeared from circulation. In place of legal tender private companies began minting their own Civil War tokens, and Congress approved of fractional or postage currency, which was just small pieces of paper in denominations of 3,5,10,15,25, and 50 cents. Fractional currency saw many issues, namely in its durability and counterfeiting. The issues of fractional currency and the lack of circulating coins pressed the United States to create the three cent coin among several other coins. 

The three cent nickel was quickly popular, postage stamps at the time cost 3 cents, so this coin had immediate use, especially with the lack of Flying Eagle Pennies in circulation. The three cent coin was made out of nickel, which was unpopular for coinage as the metal had a tendency to break and damage dies. The unpopularity of paper fractional notes as well as strong pushes from the nickel lobby saw this coin created despite the issues of production. The coin was produced between 1865 and 1889 at the Philadelphia Mint. The Mint ceased production of the coin in 1889 largely due to postage rates increasing

The coin was designed by James B Longacre and the obverse features Lady Liberty looking left, wearing a coronet with LIBERTY printed on it and wearing a ribbon in her hair. The text UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircles the coin. The date is found below Lady Liberty. Longacre reused the same profile from his Indian Head Cent, Gold Dollar, and three dollar coin. The reverse of the coin shows the denomination in Roman Numerals III and is surrounded by a laurel wreath.

This coin saw no notable variations, however there are several rare low mintage coins in this series. Three cent nickels in 1877 and 1878 were proof only and saw only 510 1877 coins and 2,350 1878 coins made. Due to the simplicity of the design, grading is straightforward for the three cent nickel. Wear appears first on the wreath and Roman Numerals on the reverse and wear shows on Lady Liberty’s hair on the obverse. 

ID: 22

List of Nickel Three Cents Coins by Year

• 1865 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1865 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1866 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1866 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1867 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1867 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1868 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1868 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1869 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1869 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1870 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1870 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1871 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1871 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1872 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1872 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1873 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1873 Closed 3 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1873 Open 3 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1873 Closed 3 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1874 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1874 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1875 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1875 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1876 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1876 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1877 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1878 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1879 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1879 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1880 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1880 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1881 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1881 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1882 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1882 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1883 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1883 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1884 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1884 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1885 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1885 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1886 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1887 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1887 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1887/6 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1888 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1888 3cn Pf   Proof
• 1889 3cn Ms   Mint Strike
• 1889 3cn Pf   Proof