1859 United States 3 Cent Value
In the current market, a 1859 United States 3 Cent changes hands for roughly $0.85 at the low end and $9.14 at the top; the melt floor under every example is $0.85 (spot prices as of 2026-06-01) Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1859 United States 3 Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.85 |
| Good (G-4) | $0.85 to $1.02 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.85 to $1.05 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.85 to $1.10 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.85 to $1.17 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.93 to $1.32 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.15 to $1.62 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $1.58 to $2.23 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $2.52 to $3.55 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $6.47 to $9.14 |
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.
What is a 1859 United States 3 Cent worth right now?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $0.85. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $9.14 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1859 United States 3 Cent can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1859 United States 3 Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1859
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 0.801 g
- Silver content
- 0.02318 troy oz
Why there is no letter on this coin
Philadelphia struck the 1859 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.
What makes the 1859 United States 3 Cent valuable
Documented examples of the 1859 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.
Every 1859 United States 3 Cent contains 0.0232 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $0.85. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
There is history in a 1859 United States Coinage as well. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
1859 United States 3 Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / (date)
Shield within six pointed star
Reverse
C / III
Value surrounded by 13 stars
Measured 1859 United States 3 Cent specimens
2 physically measured 1859 United States 3 Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 0.801 g, mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 United States 3 Cent #1 | - | - | - | Breen.2928 |
| 1859 United States 3 Cent #2 | 0.801 g | - | 6 h | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1859 United States 3 Cent is valued between $0.85 and $9.14 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.