1881 United States Cent Value
A 1881 United States Cent is worth roughly $0.03 to $0.33 depending on its condition. Its intrinsic melt value stands at $0.03 based on spot prices from 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Melt estimated at 95% copper (US bronze standard).
1881 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) | $0.23 to $0.33 |
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 1881 United States Cent worth today?
Start with $0.03 for a heavily circulated 1881 United States Cent and work upward. Lightly circulated 1881 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $0.33. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.
1881 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1881
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Bronze
- Weight
- 3.164 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
No mint mark? Here is why
The 1881 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.
Where this coin's value comes from
Documented examples of the 1881 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.
Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. For the 1881 United States Cent, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.
1881 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1881
Liberty head, Indian headdress
Reverse
ONE CENT
wreath, shield
Measured 1881 United States Cent specimens
4 physically measured 1881 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 3.164 g, 19 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1881 United States Cent #1 | 3.164 g | 19 mm | 6 h | KM.90a |
| 1881 United States Cent #2 | - | - | - | Breen.1999 |
| 1881 United States Cent #3 | - | - | - | Breen.1999 |
| 1881 United States Cent #4 | - | - | 6 h | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1881 United States Cent is valued between $0.03 and $0.33 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.