1886 United States Cent Value
A 1886 United States Cent is worth roughly $0.03 to $0.35 depending on its condition, and its metal content alone is worth $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).
1886 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 $0.05 |
| 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 $0.09 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $0.10 to $0.14 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $0.25 to $0.35 |
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 1886 United States Cent worth today?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $0.03. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $0.35 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1886 United States Cent can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1886 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1886
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Bronze
- Weight
- 3.402 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
Why this coin has no mint mark
The 1886 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.
Why the 1886 United States Cent is worth money
Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. For the 1886 United States Cent, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.
Documented examples of the 1886 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.
1886 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES -- OF AMERICA/ 1886
Native American head with headdress to l.
Reverse
ONE/ CENT
Wreath with shield above.
Measured 1886 United States Cent specimens
4 physically measured 1886 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 3.402 g, 19 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1886 United States Cent #1 | 3.402 g | 19 mm | 6 h | Breen.2009 |
| 1886 United States Cent #2 | - | - | - | Breen.2008 |
| 1886 United States Cent #3 | - | - | - | - |
| 1886 United States Cent #4 | - | - | - | Breen.2008 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1886 United States Cent is valued between $0.03 and $0.35 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.