1880 3CN (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Head Three Cent Nickels 1865-1889

PCGS MS67+

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PCGS MS67+

PCGS #:: 3748

Designer:: James Barton Longacre

Edge:: Plain

Diameter:: 17.90 millimeters

Weight:: 1.94 grams

Mintage:: 21,000

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Auction Record:: $7,619 • MS67 • 02-01-2005 • Heritage Auctions

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1880 3CN

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	1,000	R-5.0	7 / 23 TIE	7 / 23 TIE
60 or Better	550	R-5.9	14 / 23	14 / 23
65 or Better	200	R-7.0	15 / 23 TIE	15 / 23 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	1,000
60 or Better	550
65 or Better	200

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-5.0
60 or Better	R-5.9
65 or Better	R-7.0

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	7 / 23 TIE
60 or Better	14 / 23
65 or Better	15 / 23 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	7 / 23 TIE
60 or Better	14 / 23
65 or Better	15 / 23 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Image	Pedigree and History
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade

#1 MS67 PCGS grade

Ron Guth:

By 1880, production of the Three-Cent Nickel continued its precipitous decline to the point where the Mint struck only 21,000 examples in 1880 -- the lowest mintage since the type began in 1865. While some observers might attribute the decline in the mintges to a lack of demand for the Three-Cent Nickels, the return to a million-plus mintage in 1881 destroys that theory.

Despite its low mintage, the 1880 Three-Cent Nickel can be found in Mint State with relative ease. The finest examples certified by PCGS (as of December 2011) include nearly three-dozen PCGS MS-67s.