USA 3 cents Three cent Nickel 1879
USA, Philadelphia
Rarity
Extremely Rare
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 3 cents |
| Krause number | KM# 95 |
| Mintage | 3,200 |
| Metal | Copper-Nickel |
| thickness | 0.9 mm |
| diameter | 17.9 mm |
| weight | 1.94 g |
Obverse:
Liberty
Creators:
James Barton Longacre
LIBERTY
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Reverse:
Wreath
Creators:
James Barton Longacre
III
Introduction of Coins
The low mintage of currency strikes may or may not have influenced sales of proof three-cent pieces in 1879. In any case, this figure rose to 3,200 for the year, and this date is readily available in all grades through PF 65, with Cameo pieces being only slightly scarce. These coins were well made as a general rule, but the example illustrated reveals that full strikes were never guaranteed with proofs. The lower curls of Liberty's hair, always a problem area, are not fully formed. One obverse die features minor repunching of numeral 7 and more obvious doubling of the 9. As is almost always true of varieites on proof coins, there is little interest and no premium attached. In the past such repunchings were almost immediately declared overdates by the first person to notice them, but the list of true overdates has shrunken considerably in recent decades. A few of these dubious entries, however, are still listed in popular catalogs.Read More
