1870 3-Cent Silver MS PL Values

Greysheet & Red Book® Price Guide
Melt: $2.54 (0.0217 oz Silver)

Sponsor

shop eBay

Sponsor

shop

Sponsor

shop David Lawrence Rare Coins

Sponsor

shop Great Collections

Sponsor

shop Whitman

1870 3-Cent Silver MS PL Values

Details

Proof-like surfaces. With only the 1872 having a lower mintage, the 1870 had just 3,000 coins originally produced. Mint State examples are scarce with gems having many levels of rarity. MS65 is very scarce and MS66 is very rare. Any MS67 examples or finer are extreme rarities. This issue is normally struck very strongly with clash-marks being only a minor issue.

Obverse: A six-pointed star with a harp in the center is surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the periphery and the date positioned at the bottom. For the type III issues (1859-73) there is a single frame line around the star.

Reverse: The roman numeral III is centered in the design ensconced in a large, bejeweled letter C surrounded by 13 stars on the periphery. An olive sprig is added above the roman numerals.

Source: Proof-like surfaces.

Basic Information

GSID:

213675

Coin Date:

1870

Denomination:

3cS / 3-Cent Silver

Designation:

MS

Mint & Coinage Details

Mint Location:

Philadelphia

Mintage:

3,000

Coinage Type:

Three cent silver

Coinage Years:

1859-1873

Composition:

0.9 silver; 0.1 copper

Physical Characteristics

Fineness:

0.9

Weight:

0.75 gr

Weight:

0.0241 oz

Precious Metal Weight:

0.0217 oz

Strike Type:

Business

Diameter:

14 mm

Coin Shape:

Round

Design Details

Designer:

James B. Longacre

Obverse Lettering:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1870

Obverse Designer:

James B. Longacre

Reverse Lettering:

III

Reverse Designer:

James B. Longacre

Available on Greysheet Marketplace

View All

Dealer Directory

View All Dealers

Greysheet News

View All News
No Dollars? Capped Bust Half Dollars in the China Trade
No Dollars? Capped Bust Half Dollars in the China Trade
1/28/2026

According to Representative Campbell P. White, in his congressional report of 1832, the exportation of half dollars carried on steadily after 1804 and was extensive from 1811–1821.

DLRC Awards $5,000 Bounty for Rare Proof Silver Dollar
DLRC Awards $5,000 Bounty for Rare Proof Silver Dollar
1/27/2026

Virginia Beach, VA: Wanted! Dead or Alive!

1804 Class III Draped Bust Dollar Leads Heritage FUN Numismatic Auctions Above $63.38 Million
1804 Class III Draped Bust Dollar Leads Heritage FUN Numismatic Auctions Above $63.38 Million
1/21/2026

1879 Coiled Hair Stella, 1829 Capped Head Left Half Eagle and 1934 $10,000 federal reserve note also among event highlights.

Map icon

Rothchild Catering & Conference Center

Map icon

Coinacopia Building