2 Cent And 3 Cent Coins

Prethen! You have added another one to your cult!

Glad to have you Ken.

As far as counterfeits, there really aren't any modern counterfeit 2 and 3 cent coins out there. There are some older counterfeit silver trimes that are actually pretty darn nice though!

Well, I love all the odd type coins and the 2-cent and 3-cent coins have been a focus for me for some time (mainly 3-cent nickels, though). As far as fakes. I wouldn't worry about it at all. If there's a fake, likely it's pretty bad and you wouldn't like the look of the coin anyway. The PCGS guide notes that these are rarely if ever seen (I'm taking this from memory as the book is not in front of me at the moment). The only 3-cent coins that you might run into as fakes are 3-cent silvers usually dated 1860 or 1861, but mostly the latter. I've actually paid a premium for these coins, that is, as much if not more than a legitimate coin. So, the end result is, it almost doesn't matter if you ended up with a contemporary (created during the Civil War) 3CS, it actually has some numismatic value and is a coin to treasure for its own reasons.

I heard of cast copies existing of the 1864 Small Motto but I've never seen one. The 1872 2-cent could be a lucrative fake but you just have to be familiar with seeing legimate versions and note the style of the "2".

So, I guess the answer is be aware of those two 2-cent coins but not too worried and take a look at the pictures of fake 3CS (there are a number on the PCGS U.S. coin forum right now, as well as here) so you can learn what they look like.

I hope that answers your questions.

So what is wrong with the $0.04 cent coins? Then of course the $0.20 cent pieces. No joke on that one. Have you noticed the lack of the newer 2 and 3 cent pieces in circulation lately? I can't find any with a 2007 date at all. Our Mint has to incrase production.
As to counterfeiting coins. There are fakes of almost all denominations appearing more and more. To make things worse there are also those fakes in fake slabs too. The main thing with counterfeiters is they stick to the more popular and expesive coins as a general rule. Note that the 2 cent, 3 cent and the Liberty Head Nickels, although not around for a long, long time, most have small values even in very high grades. It is primarily popularity that makes the value of coins and such coins are just not that popular. They are amonst the more avid collectors but for the greatest majority, they are just not what people want. If you are getting into those denominations, I suggest you move fast before they too become very popular.

Hi all, I'm new to this forum - just discovered it today.
I have s couple questions about the 3CN series... 1st, Does anyone know if there are any books in print concerning this series? 2nd Is there any information about varieties - specifically clashes. I have a nice high grade 1873 (open 3) example that shows clashes from another 3CN. A reverse clash shows on the obverse and an obverse clash shows up on the reverse and both are rotated 180 degrees. I will try to post pics, but images may not show up that well as clashes are difficult to photograph unless the coin is at a certain angle to the light.
I would like to learn more about this series as my main area of experience is in the Flying Eagle and Indian Head cents.

Thanks for any information and I look forward to participating in this forum.

https://goccf.com/t/25037
The link above shows a nicely clashed 3CN.

There are a couple of books about 3CN varieties which I don't much care for personally (I'm not a variety collector). There's only one very decent book that does a die analysis year by year plus a decent backstory...Alan Gifford's book on the Ultimate Guide to Three Cent Nickels. It's not cheap though...about $180 or so.

There's not a lot otherwise published about them. I'm trying to change that by publishing what little I know through simple research and experience.

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There's only one very decent book that does a die analysis year by year plus a decent backstory...Alan Gifford's book on the Ultimate Guide to Three Cent Nickels. It's not cheap though...about $180 or so.

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But good luck finding it.

Yeah, I found it there right after I made my previous post. Now I just haveto see if I can come up with the cash to go ahead and buy it before they are all gone.

I don't consider 3CN a distraction....
....it's an OBSESSION!