1866 3CN (Regular Strike)
Series: Liberty Head Three Cent Nickels 1865-1889
PCGS MS67+
PCGS MS67
PCGS MS67
- PCGS #:
- 3732
- Designer:
- James Barton Longacre
- Edge:
- Plain
- Diameter:
- 17.90 millimeters
- Weight:
- 1.94 grams
- Mintage:
- 4,801,000
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
- Auction Record:
- $18,400 • MS67 • 12-04-2003 • Bowers & Merena
Major Varieties
- 1866 3CN
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 20,000 |
| 60 or Better | 1,500 |
| 65 or Better | 250 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-2.8 |
| 60 or Better | R-4.8 |
| 65 or Better | R-6.6 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 22 / 23 |
| 60 or Better | 21 / 23 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 20 / 23 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 22 / 23 |
| 60 or Better | 21 / 23 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 20 / 23 |
Condition Census What Is This?
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#1 PCGS MS67+
As NGC MS67+ #4263202-001. Heritage Auctions, August 12, 2015, Lot $7,637.50; Heritage Auctions, February 4, 2016, Lot 3114 – $5,875; Heritage Auctions, October 3, 2016, Lot 3037 – $6,168.75; "The Ron and Van Clark Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2019, Lot 4186 – $4,560. As PCGS MS67+ #37373151. Heritage Auctions, August 14, 2019, Lot 3711 – $14,400. Top pop, pop one at the time of the sale. Late die state. Raised mound caused by a die cavity atop the first Roman numeral. Die cracks on the obverse and reverse along with distorted die image. Struck with clashed dies. |
#2 PCGS MS67
As PCGS MS67 #28256645. Legend Rare Coin Auctions, February 19, 2015, Lot 51 – $18,212.50; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, September 3, 2015, Lot 46 – $9,106.25. As PCGS MS67 #25256645. GreatCollections, December 8, 2019, Lot 780210 - $7,594.88. As PCGS MS67 #39324464. Legend Rare Coin Auctions, September 8, 2022, Lot 30 – $8,812.50. "The BarrowTH Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Struck with clashed dies. Obverse die cracks near 12 and 6 o'clock. Engraver line (?) running diagonally the length of the lower right obverse field. |
#2 PCGS MS67
Heritage Auctions, June 9, 2016, Lot 4307 – $7,637.50. Late die state. Raised mound caused by a die cavity atop the first Roman numeral. Die cracks on the obverse and reverse along with distorted die image. Struck with clashed dies. |
#2 PCGS MS67
"The tompet38 Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Struck with clashed dies. Vertical die line near ear. Small cluster of toning spots at the first S of STATES. |
|
#2 PCGS MS67
Struck with clashed dies. |
#6 PCGS MS66+
Heritage Auctions, December 18, 2022, Lot 3393 - $1,260; Heritage Auctions, May 7, 2023, Lot 7093 - $1,260; Stack's Bowers, June 27, 2025, Lot 1409 - $2,160; GreatCollections, October 5, 2025, Lot 1929543 - $2,306.25. Struck with clashed dies. Toning spot near nostril. Raised mound atop first column. Streaks of gold toning on the reverse. Multiple die cracks on both obverse and reverse. |
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#6 PCGS MS66+
"The Gold Coast Collection," Heritage Auctions, March 21, 2022, Lot 92133 - $2,520; "Rafus - 3CN Basic Set" (PCGS Set Registry). Struck with clashed dies. Small toning spot on nose. Another spot near chin. Advanced die cracks on the obverse and reverse. |
#6 PCGS MS66+
David Lawrence Rare Coins, September 25, 2017, Lot 8062 - $2,500; "The Avangelina Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Advanced die state. Struck with clashed dies. Raised mound atop first Roman numeral. Multiple major die cracks on the obverse and reverse. |
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#6 PCGS MS66+
Heritage Auctions, July 12, 2012, Lot 3285 - $4,025. Struck with clashed dies.. Raised mound atop first column. Streaks of gold toning at the right side of the obverse. Multiple die cracks on both obverse and reverse. |
#6 PCGS MS66+
Advanced die state. Struck with clashed dies. Multiple major die cracks on the reverse. |
#6 PCGS MS66+
Advanced die state. Struck with clashed dies. Raised mound atop first Roman numeral. Multiple major die cracks on the obverse and reverse. |
#6 PCGS MS66+
Vertical planchet striations. Thin horizontal mark near the base of the first two columns. Gold and rose hue. |
#6 PCGS MS66+
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#6 PCGS MS66+
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1866 Three-Cent Nickel: Production and Varieties
In 1866, the Philadelphia Mint produced 4,801,000 business-strike Three-Cent Nickels (PCGS #3732) alongside an estimated 725 Proofs. While this represented a steep decline in production compared to the previous year, both the 1865 and 1866 issues remain the primary "type coins" for the series.
In The Ultimate Guide to U.S. Three Cent Nickels: 1865 to 1889 (2003), Allan Gifford estimated that 96 obverse and reverse dies were deployed throughout the year. From these, he enumerated 19 attributable varieties. The Cherrypickers' Guide lists two of the more dramatic varieties:
- FS-101 (#38301): A Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) with clear doubling visible at the truncation of the bust and on the word AMERICA.
- FS-301 (#515649): Repunched Date (RPD): This variety exhibits prominent repunching, specifically on the final 6, which shows a wide spread between the two impressions.
Collecting the 1866 Three-Cent Nickel
With nearly 1,500 examples certified by PCGS, collectors should not find it difficult to acquire an 1866 Three-Cent Nickel, even in Mint State. The true challenge lies in finding a premium-quality example in an early die state, free of clash marks or die cracks. Even on condition census examples, coins are frequently seen struck from heavily clashed or shattered dies. Collectors can often find:
- Multiple Clash Marks: Often visible on both sides of the coin.
- Die Cuds: Some specimens exhibit a significant cud above the first Roman numeral (III).
- Design Distortion: On many coins, the design elements appear distorted or "mushy" due to the excessive wear on the dies.
The 1866 issue becomes conditionally rare in grades above PCGS MS66+ (a grade at which the coin currently seems somewhat undervalued). The finest known example, a PCGS MS67+, possesses pristine surfaces but still exhibits the characteristic "whimsy" and technical flaws of a mid-19th-century Philadelphia Mint minor coin.
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