Numismatic

1889 3 Cent Nickel VF

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In the late nineteenth century, the United States Mint produced a distinctive denomination that has since vanished from circulating coinage: the three-cent piece. This 1889 issue, struck in Philadelphia, represents the final year of the entire Three Cent Nickel series, making it a particularly compelling artifact of American monetary history. Surviving in Very Fine condition, this coin retains clear details from its time in circulation over a century ago. The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty designed by James Longacre. She wears a coronet inscribed with the word LIBERTY, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date 1889 positioned below her bust. The design is framed by a neat, dentiled border along the rim. On the reverse, the coin features a minimalist yet elegant layout. The denomination is represented by the Roman numeral III, which sits boldly at the center. This numeral is encircled by a stylized laurel wreath, showcasing the artistic transitions of late Victorian-era coinage.