NNP Encyclopedia data is provided in cooperation with Whitman Brands, based on catalog data organized by the Greysheet Identification System (GSID).
Entry Details
Coin Date: 3-Cent Nickel Set Denomination (Short): 3cN Denomination (Long): 3-Cent Nickel Variety: 23 Coins Desg: MS Composition: 75% copper; 25% nickel Strike Type: Business Coinage Type: Three cent nickel Coinage Years: 1865-1889 Mint Location: Philadelphia Diameter: 17.9 Weight (Grams): 1.94 Designer: James B. Longacre Edge: Plain Obverse Description: 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 Description: 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. General Notes:
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.
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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.
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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.
