1868 United States 3 Dollar Value
Expect a 1868 United States 3 Dollar to trade between about $486 and $5,249, driven almost entirely by grade, and its metal content alone is worth $486 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 gold standard.
1868 United States 3 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $486.02 |
| Good (G-4) | $486 to $583 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $486 to $601 |
| Fine (F-12) | $486 to $630 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $486 to $671 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $537 to $758 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $661 to $933 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $909 to $1,283 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,446 to $2,041 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $3,718 to $5,249 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-13. 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 1868 United States 3 Dollar worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1868 United States 3 Dollar starts around $486. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $5,249. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1868 United States 3 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1868
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 5.014 g
- Diameter
- 20 mm
- Gold content
- 0.14508 troy oz
Why this coin has no mint mark
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1868 United States 3 Dollar comes from the main Philadelphia Mint, which left its coins unlettered in this era. The position where branch mints placed their letter (varies by series) is simply blank.
What makes the 1868 United States 3 Dollar valuable
Documented examples of the 1868 United States 3 Dollar in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.
At 0.1451 troy ounces of gold, $486 at spot, the intrinsic value of a 1868 United States 3 Dollar is substantial, and every move in the gold market flows straight into its price.
Context adds the final layer to the 1868 United States 3 Dollar. 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.
1868 United States 3 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
bust l.
Reverse
3 DOLLARS 1868
wreath
Measured 1868 United States 3 Dollar specimens
2 physically measured 1868 United States 3 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 5.014 g, 20 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1868 United States 3 Dollar #1 | 5.014 g | 20 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.124, Breen.6375 |
| 1868 United States 3 Dollar #2 | - | - | - | Breen.6375, Friedberg.USA.124 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1868 United States 3 Dollar is valued between $486 and $5,249 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.