Most Americans do not know that the US Mint issued 2 cent and 3 cent coins back around the days of the Civil War. You have an 1865 specimen which was the first year this coin was issued in nickel. Prior to that, and for sometime thereafter, 3 cent coins were also issued in silver.

The catalogs show approximate values for these old coins, as outlined below:

COINS DATED 1865 to 1881:
worn: $18 US dollars catalog value
average circulated: $25
well preserved (like our picture): $35
fully uncirculated: $125
Coins dated 1879 and 1880 are less common: multiply the above values by 3.


COINS DATED 1882 to 1887:
worn: $200 US dollars catalog value
average circulated: $300
well preserved (like our picture): $400
fully uncirculated: $600
Coins dated 1884 and 1885 are less common: multiply the above values by 2.
Coins dated 1882 are common in low grades: divide the above values by 2 for worn or average circulated coins.

COINS DATED 1888 to 1889:
worn: $50 US dollars catalog value
average circulated: $80
well preserved (like our picture): $120
fully uncirculated: $200

Remember, these catalog values are inflated values. See our Important Terminology link for a full explanation. Also, these values only apply to problem-free coins: that is, coins that are not bent, holed, gouged or in any other way damaged beyond normal wear and tear.