1861 United States 3 Cent Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1861 United States 3 Cent brings anywhere from $0.72 to $7.77. Its intrinsic melt value stands at $0.72 based on spot prices from 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.
1861 United States 3 Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.72 |
| Good (G-4) | $0.72 to $0.86 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.72 to $0.89 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.72 to $0.93 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.72 to $0.99 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.79 to $1.12 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $0.98 to $1.38 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $1.35 to $1.90 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $2.14 to $3.02 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $5.50 to $7.77 |
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 1861 United States 3 Cent worth today?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $0.72. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $7.77 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1861 United States 3 Cent can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1861 United States 3 Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1861
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 0.681 g
- Diameter
- 14 mm
- Silver content
- 0.01971 troy oz
Why this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1861 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 collectors pay for in a 1861 United States 3 Cent
The 90% silver composition gives a 1861 United States 3 Cent 0.0197 oz of precious metal ($0.72 at current spot). Bullion demand alone supports the bottom of its price range.
Documented examples of the 1861 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.
Few series carry the following that supports the 1861 United States 3 Cent. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. A coin that thousands of collectors are actively assembling into sets never lacks for a market.
1861 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 1861 United States 3 Cent specimens
12 physically measured 1861 United States 3 Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 0.681 g, 14 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #1 | - | - | - | Breen.2933 |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #2 | 0.579 g | - | 12 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #3 | 0.744 g | - | 5 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #4 | 0.584 g | - | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #5 | 0.646 g | - | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #6 | 0.657 g | - | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #7 | 0.656 g | - | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #8 | 0.705 g | - | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #9 | 0.698 g | - | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #10 | 0.722 g | - | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #11 | 0.699 g | - | 5 h | - |
| 1861 United States 3 Cent #12 | 0.69 g | 15 mm | 6 h | Breen.2933 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1861 United States 3 Cent is valued between $0.72 and $7.77 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.