1849 United States 3 Cent Value
A 1849 United States 3 Cent is worth roughly $1.32 to $14.26 depending on its condition; the melt floor under every example is $1.32 (spot prices as of 2026-06-01) Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1849 United States 3 Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $1.32 |
| Good (G-4) | $1.32 to $1.58 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $1.32 to $1.63 |
| Fine (F-12) | $1.32 to $1.71 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $1.32 to $1.82 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $1.46 to $2.06 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.80 to $2.53 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $2.47 to $3.49 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $3.93 to $5.54 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $10.10 to $14.26 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
How much is a 1849 United States 3 Cent worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1849 United States 3 Cent starts around $1.32. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $14.26. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1849 United States 3 Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1849
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 1.25 g
- Diameter
- 15 mm
- Silver content
- 0.03617 troy oz
Why this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1849 United States 3 Cent, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (see the series guide) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
The value drivers behind this coin
Documented examples of the 1849 United States 3 Cent in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.
Beneath the numismatics of the 1849 United States 3 Cent sits 0.0362 troy ounces of silver, $1.32 worth at today's spot price. When silver rallies, even the most common dates of this series rise with it.
Context adds the final layer to the 1849 United States 3 Cent. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1849 United States 3 Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
III
value
Reverse
3
value
Measured 1849 United States 3 Cent specimens
1 physically measured 1849 United States 3 Cent example in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 1.25 g, 15 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1849 United States 3 Cent #1 | 1.25 g | 15 mm | - | Judd.113, Pollock.127, Adams.Woodin.109 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1849 United States 3 Cent is valued between $1.32 and $14.26 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.