Whitman Expo
3-Cent Nickel 1865-1889 3-Cent Nickel MS Values
Details
3 cent nickels were struck from 1865 through 1889 and designed by James B. Longacre. Despite a production range spanning a quarter century during a period in US coinage history when designs were typically modified in one way or another, the 3 cent nickel retained its same general design for the course of its time.
The 3 cent nickel series boasts a few significant varieties, including the 1873 Close 3, 1873 Open 3, and 18878 7/6 overdate. However, most issues in this series are standard and relatively common, especially in the lower grades among earlier dates.
Dealers and collectors will find some degree of challenge in obtaining most of the dates from 1877 through 1889, some of which are proof-only issues and others that are comparatively scarce. These include the 1877, 1878, and 1886 proof-only issues and all business-strike issues from 1882 through 1887. Also scarce are the 1879, 1880, 1888, and 1889 3 cent nickels. This leaves only the 1881 3 cent nickel, which is priced more on par with the more common pre-1877 issues.
Obverse: A Romanesque Liberty is portrayed facing left with LIBERTY emblazoned on her crown. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appears on the periphery with the date at the bottom.
Reverse: The roman numeral III is centered in the design surrounded by a large wreath tied with a bow at the bottom. This design is one of few American coins without wording on one of the sides.
Basic Information
GSID:
72350
Coin Date:
3-Cent Nickel
Denomination:
3cN / 3-Cent Nickel
Designation:
MS
Mint & Coinage Details
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Coinage Type:
Three cent nickel
Coinage Years:
1865-1889
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
Varieties and Classification
Variety:
1865-1889
Physical Characteristics
Weight:
1.94 gr
Weight:
0.0624 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
17.9 mm
Coin Shape:
Round
Design Details
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, [Date]
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
III
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
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