1866 3CN AU58+ Certification #40044384, PCGS #3732

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

Ex Mike Fortune GOLD CAC

Expert Comments

Charles Morgan

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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PCGS #

3732

Designer

James Barton Longacre

Edge

Plain

Diameter

17.90 millimeters

Weight

1.94 grams

Mintage

4801000

Metal

75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Pop Higher

955

Pop Lower

478

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

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.
65 or Better	20000	R-2.8	22 / 23	22 / 23
All Grades	1500	R-4.8	21 / 23 TIE	21 / 23 TIE
60 or Better	250	R-6.6	20 / 23	20 / 23

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.
65 or Better	20000
All Grades	1500
60 or Better	250

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.
65 or Better	R-2.8
All Grades	R-4.8
60 or Better	R-6.6

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.
65 or Better	22 / 23
All Grades	21 / 23 TIE
60 or Better	20 / 23

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.
65 or Better	22 / 23
All Grades	21 / 23 TIE
60 or Better	20 / 23

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
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.

#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.