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1866 Silver Three Cent Piece

Strike Type
1866 Silver Three Cent Piece

Coin Details

Year
1866
Denomination
Three Cent
Mint Mark
P
Strike Type
Regular Strike
Series
Silver Three Cent Pieces 1851-1873
Designer
James Barton Longacre
Mintage
22,000
Composition
90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight
0.75g
Diameter
14.3mm
Edge
Plain

Value Estimates

$640 - $2,498

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 is a cent produced at the Philadelphia Mint as part of the Silver Three Cent Pieces 1851-1873 series. 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. Struck at the original U.S. Mint facility, in continuous operation since 1792. 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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