1881 3CN AU58 Certification #42604871, PCGS #3749

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1881 Three Cent Nickel has an extremely high mintage for an era when mintages of less than 10,000 coins were common.  With over 1 million coins minted, the 1881 has the seventh highest mintage of the series.  As a result, collectors will have no difficulty locating a nice example of this date at a reasonable price.  The typical Mint State grade is MS-64, with a decreasing but fairly equal distribution of grades on either side.  On the high end, the finest examples certified by PCGS (as of December 2011) are seven MS-67s.

 

PCGS #
3749
Designer
James Barton Longacre
Edge
Plain
Diameter
17.90 millimeters
Weight
1.94 grams
Mintage
1077000
Metal
75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Pop Higher
730
Pop Lower
353
Region
The United States of America
Price Guide
PCGS Population
Auctions - PCGS Graded
Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades
65 or Better 6000 R-3.8 17 / 23 17 / 23
All Grades 1500 R-4.8 21 / 23 TIE 21 / 23 TIE
60 or Better 400 R-6.2 22 / 23 22 / 23
65 or Better 6000
All Grades 1500
60 or Better 400
65 or Better R-3.8
All Grades R-4.8
60 or Better R-6.2
65 or Better 17 / 23
All Grades 21 / 23 TIE
60 or Better 22 / 23
65 or Better 17 / 23
All Grades 21 / 23 TIE
60 or Better 22 / 23

Condition Census Learn More

Pos Grade Thumbnail 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