1866 Silver Three Cent Piece
Strike Type
Coin Details
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — estimates reflect typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Auction Record
$31,200 MS68+ 09-17-2020 Heritage Auctions
Description
The 1866 Silver Three Cent Piece, struck at the Philadelphia Mint, is part of the Silver Three Cent Pieces 1851-1873 collection. With a mintage of 22,000, this is a scarce issue — the higher-mintage of the two mint variants, representing 97% of production. The obverse features a six-pointed star enclosing a Union shield and the reverse displays a Roman numeral III (three) within a large letter C. Minted during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, as the nation healed from civil war and debated the role of silver and gold in the monetary system. Coined at the Philadelphia facility, the nation's original mint that has operated continuously since its 1792 founding. Estimated market value ranges from $640 to $2.5K depending on grade and condition. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 0.75 grams, 14.3 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #3686.
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