View All 1869 Silver Three Cent Piece

1869 Silver Three Cent Piece - 9/8

Strike Type
1869 Silver Three Cent Piece - 9/8

Coin Details

Year
1869
Denomination
Three Cent
Mint Mark
P
Strike Type
Regular Strike
Series
Silver Three Cent Pieces 1851-1873
Designer
James Barton Longacre
Mintage
4,500
Composition
90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight
0.75g
Diameter
14.3mm
Edge
Plain

Value Estimates

$557 - $2,730

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

$43,200 MS68 11-22-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1869 Silver Three Cent Piece - 9/8 is a cent produced at the Philadelphia Mint as part of the Silver Three Cent Pieces 1851-1873 series. With a mintage of 4,500, this is an extremely rare issue — the highest mintage among 3 variants, accounting for 79% of the year's 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 $557 to $2.7K 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 #3689.

External References

Error Varieties

No listings found

This category doesn't have any child listings yet.