1871 United States 3 Cent Value
A 1871 United States 3 Cent is worth roughly its melt value to well into four figures depending on its condition. Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1871 United States 3 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.
How much is a 1871 United States 3 Cent worth today?
Pricing for the 1871 United States 3 Cent depends on grade and current collector demand.
1871 United States 3 Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1871
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Cupronickel
- Diameter
- 17 mm
Why this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1871 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.
Where this coin's value comes from
Documented examples of the 1871 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.
Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. For the 1871 United States 3 Cent, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.
1871 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 1871 United States 3 Cent specimens
3 physically measured 1871 United States 3 Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the g, 17 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1871 United States 3 Cent #1 | - | - | - | Breen.2962 |
| 1871 United States 3 Cent #2 | - | - | - | Breen.2425 |
| 1871 United States 3 Cent #3 | - | 17 mm | - | Breen.2425 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.