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1887
| Weight | 1.94 g |
| Diameter | 17.9 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 5,001 Combined mintage for all 1887 varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 75% Copper, 25% Nickel |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-989 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
Circulation strike production resumed in 1887 after a proof-only 1886, with just 5,000 coins struck. The Mint was preserving the denomination's nominal existence, not meeting commercial demand. Nobody was spending three-cent nickels in meaningful numbers by then; the 5,000 coins existed chiefly to keep the denomination on the books.
Every 1887 three-cent nickel die carries an overdate. The engraver working in late 1886 apparently grabbed the previous year's date punch out of habit, then corrected the error by overpunching a 7 on top of the 6. Because the mistake happened before any dies were finished, all 1887 three-cent nickels (circulation and proof) carry some trace of the underlying 6. Mint workers ground down the dies to hide the error, producing the Weak and Strong overdate varieties on the proofs. The circulation strike 1887 is a separate rarity from the overdate proof, and both are recognized as key pieces in the series.
Surviving circulation strike 1887 examples are scarce. Most are in lower circulated grades. The coin commands key-date pricing and is one of several late-series issues that make the three-cent nickel a demanding series to complete in any form.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $225 | $260 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $265 | $305 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $295 | $340 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $360 | $415 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $415 | $480 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $490 | $565 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $605 | $695 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
How much is a 1887 Three-Cent Nickel worth?
How many 1887 Three-Cent Nickels were minted?
What is a 1887 Three-Cent Nickel made of?
What is the melt value of a 1887 Three-Cent Nickel?
Is the 1887 Three-Cent Nickel a key date?
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