1880 United States Cent Value
A 1880 United States Cent is worth roughly $0.03 to $0.34 depending on its condition, while the raw metal inside it is valued at $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Melt estimated at 95% copper (US bronze standard).
1880 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) | $0.04 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 2026-06-15. 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 1880 United States Cent worth today?
Figure roughly $0.03 as the realistic floor for a damage-free, well-worn 1880 United States Cent, rising steadily through the grades to about $0.34 for a certified gem. Cleaned or damaged coins trade below these figures, though never below the $0.03 melt floor.
1880 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1880
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Bronze
- Weight
- 3.296 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
Why this coin has no mint mark
The 1880 United States Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (check the usual position for this series), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
What makes the 1880 United States Cent valuable
Official mintage figures for the 1880 United States Cent are not well established. The museum-documented specimens behind our specifications provide the physical reference points for the issue, and the market prices it on observed scarcity.
Few series carry the following that supports the 1880 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.
1880 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1880
Liberty head, Indian headdress
Reverse
ONE CENT
wreath, shield
Measured 1880 United States Cent specimens
2 physically measured 1880 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 3.296 g, 19 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 United States Cent #1 | 3.296 g | 19 mm | 6 h | KM.90a |
| 1880 United States Cent #2 | - | - | - | Breen.1998 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1880 United States Cent is valued between $0.03 and $0.34 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.