1870 United States Cent Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1870 United States Cent brings anywhere from its melt value to well into four figures. See the grade table below for exactly where your coin falls.
1870 United States Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|
Estimated retail range. 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 1870 United States Cent worth right now?
The market for the 1870 United States Cent is driven by condition above all.
1870 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1870
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Bronze
Why there is no letter on this coin
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1870 United States Cent is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time.
Why the 1870 United States Cent is worth money
The 1870 United States Cent lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
Context adds the final layer to the 1870 United States 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.
1870 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1870
Liberty head, Indian headdress
Reverse
ONE CENT
wreath, shield
Measured 1870 United States Cent specimens
1 physically measured 1870 United States Cent example in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the g, mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 United States Cent #1 | - | - | - | Breen.1979 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.