1870 Nickel Three Cent Piece
Base
About This Coin
The 1870 Nickel Three Cent Piece is a United States three-cent nickel piece from the Nickel Three Cent Pieces 1865-1889 series. The Philadelphia Mint struck 1,336,000 three-cent nickel pieces dated 1870, including an estimated 1,000 proofs. The obverse features Liberty facing left with a coronet inscribed LIBERTY and the reverse displays a Roman numeral III within a wreath. 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 in 75% copper, 25% nickel, weighing 1.94 grams, 17.9 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Designed by James Barton Longacre.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 across all of this coin's strike types, from published price guides and, in some cases, recorded auction sales. For most coins the range runs from a well-worn example (around G-4) to an uncirculated one, but individual coins can sell for more or less depending on grade, eye appeal and demand. Compare recent sales of similar coins for a closer estimate.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(2)
1870 Nickel Three Cent Piece
1870 Proof Nickel Three Cent Piece
Other Base Coins in This Series
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