1881 3CN (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Head Three Cent Nickels 1865-1889

PCGS MS67

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PCGS MS67

PCGS #:: 3749

Designer:: James Barton Longacre

Edge:: Plain

Diameter:: 17.90 millimeters

Weight:: 1.94 grams

Mintage:: 1,077,000

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel

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

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (2)

Major Varieties

1881 3CN

Die Varieties

1881 3CN RPD FS-301

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PCGS Population

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For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded

For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - 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.
All Grades	6,000	R-3.8	17 / 23	17 / 23
60 or Better	1,500	R-4.8	21 / 23 TIE	21 / 23 TIE
65 or Better	400	R-6.2	22 / 23	22 / 23

Survival Estimate
All Grades	6,000
60 or Better	1,500
65 or Better	400

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-3.8
60 or Better	R-4.8
65 or Better	R-6.2

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	17 / 23
60 or Better	21 / 23 TIE
65 or Better	22 / 23

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	17 / 23
60 or Better	21 / 23 TIE
65 or Better	22 / 23

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
8	MS66 PCGS grade
8	MS66 PCGS grade
8	MS66 PCGS grade

#1 MS67 PCGS grade

#8 MS66 PCGS grade

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.