1866 Three-Cent Nickel — Philadelphia Mint

$30.00 $38.00
1866 Three-Cent Nickel — Philadelphia Mint

1866 Three-Cent Nickel — Philadelphia Mint

$30.00 $38.00

1866 Three-Cent Nickel — Philadelphia Mint

Own a fascinating piece of 19th-century American numismatic history with this 1866 Three-Cent Nickel, struck at the Philadelphia Mint during the early Reconstruction era following the American Civil War.

Introduced in 1865, the Three-Cent Nickel was created to help restore convenient small-denomination coinage to American commerce. During the Civil War, gold and silver coins had largely disappeared from circulation, creating a shortage of everyday change. The new copper-nickel denomination provided a practical alternative to precious-metal coinage.

Designed by James B. Longacre, the Three-Cent Nickel was produced from 1865 through 1889 and remains a distinctive example of obsolete United States coinage.

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the portrait, with the date 1866 positioned beneath.

The reverse displays the Roman numeral III, representing the coin's three-cent denomination, enclosed within an ornamental laurel wreath.

The 1866 Three-Cent Nickel represents the second year of the series and was produced during a period of significant economic and political change in the United States. With more than 4.8 million examples struck for circulation, it remains a recognizable early issue of this unusual denomination.

Unlike the earlier Three-Cent Silver Piece, the Three-Cent Nickel contains no silver. Instead, it was struck from an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel, providing greater durability for everyday circulation.

Whether collected as part of a complete Three-Cent Nickel series, an obsolete denomination collection, or a broader United States type set, this historic 1866 issue offers an interesting connection to America's post-Civil War monetary history.

Product Details

  • Denomination: Three Cents ($0.03 USD)

  • Year: 1866

  • Mint: Philadelphia (No Mint Mark)

  • Series: Three-Cent Nickel (1865–1889)

  • Issue: Second Year of Production

  • Original Mintage: 4,801,000 business strikes

  • Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel

  • Weight: 1.94 grams

  • Diameter: 17.9 mm

  • Designer: James B. Longacre

  • Obverse: Left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY

  • Reverse: Roman numeral III surrounded by a laurel wreath

  • Edge: Plain

  • Condition: See product photographs for the exact coin offered

  • Quantity: One individual coin

Please Note: This listing is for one specific 1866 Three-Cent Nickel. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

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