1865 Nickel Three Cent Piece
Strike Type
Coin Details
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — estimates reflect typical grades (G-4 through MS-67). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Auction Record
$19,800 MS67 01-12-2020 Heritage Auctions
Description
The 1865 Nickel Three Cent Piece is a cent produced at the Philadelphia Mint as part of the Nickel Three Cent Pieces 1865-1889 series. Total mintage reached 11.4 million. The obverse features Liberty facing left with a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, while the reverse displays a Roman numeral III within a wreath. Designed by James Barton Longacre. Struck in 75% copper, 25% nickel, weighing 1.94 grams, 17.9 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #3731. The Nickel Three-Cent Piece was introduced in 1865 during the Civil War coin shortage, joining the copper-nickel denomination alongside the Shield Nickel. Business-strike mintages declined sharply after the mid-1870s, making later dates scarce. Proof-only years exist at the end of the series.
