1879 United States Cent Value
A 1879 United States Cent is worth roughly $0.03 to $0.34 depending on its condition, with a hard melt-value floor of $0.03 as of 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 95% copper (US bronze standard).
1879 United States Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.03 |
| Good (G-4) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.03 to $0.05 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $0.04 to $0.06 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $0.06 to $0.08 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $0.09 to $0.13 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $0.24 to $0.34 |
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 1879 United States Cent worth today?
Start with $0.03 for a heavily circulated 1879 United States Cent and work upward. Lightly circulated 1879 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $0.34. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.
1879 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1879
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Bronze
- Weight
- 3.254 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
Why this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1879 United States 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.
The value drivers behind this coin
Documented examples of the 1879 United States 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 1879 United States 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.
1879 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES -- OF AMERICA/ 1879
Native American head with headdress to l.
Reverse
ONE/ CENT
Wreath with shield above.
Measured 1879 United States Cent specimens
3 physically measured 1879 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 3.254 g, 19 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1879 United States Cent #1 | 3.254 g | 19 mm | 6 h | KM.90a |
| 1879 United States Cent #2 | - | - | - | Breen.1996 |
| 1879 United States Cent #3 | - | - | - | Breen.1996 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1879 United States Cent is valued between $0.03 and $0.34 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.