US Nickel Three Cent Piece 1865 to 1889

Most Americans do not know that the US Mint issued 2 cent and 3 cent coins back around the days of the Civil War. The coin in our picture is a 3 cent piece minted in nickel. Prior to 1865, and for sometime thereafter, 3 cent coins were also issued in silver (see [This Page]).

The catalogs show approximate values for these nickel III cent pieces, as shown in the picture above:

NICKLE III CENTS DATED 1865 to 1881:
worn: $18 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $25
well preserved: $40
fully uncirculated: $130
Coins dated 1879 and 1880 are less common: multiply the above values by 3.

NICKLE III CENTS DATED 1882 to 1887:
worn: $200 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $300
well preserved: $400
fully uncirculated: $500
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.

NICKEL III CENTS DATED 1888 to 1889:
worn: $50 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $80
well preserved: $140
fully uncirculated: $250

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.
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