1871 Nickel Three Cent Piece
Base
About This Coin
The 1871 Nickel Three Cent Piece is a United States cent from the Nickel Three Cent Pieces 1865-1889 series — 7th of 25 years in the series. In 1871, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 604,960. This ranks 15th of 25 years by total mintage, above the series median of 163,150. 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. Produced 6 years before the celebrated 1877 key date. Across its variants, estimated values range from $26 to $407 depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $14K in MS67 grade at Legend Rare Coin Auctions. Designed by James Barton Longacre.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
