Three Cent Silver

The tiny "trime" measured just 14 mm, and was introduced in 1851. Billon was initially used, an alloy of .750 silver, .250 copper. In 1854, the composition was changed to regular "coin silver" alloy of .900 silver and .100 copper. Three different varieties circulated until the series retirement in 1873. All bore a six-pointed star on the obverse and Roman numeral III on the reverse. Coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint each year through the life of the denomination, and were coined at the New Orleans Mint for southern used only in the first year of issue. The final year was a Proof-only date, and all struck since 1863 were low mintage issues that are particularly scarce today in Mint State. There are no great rarities within the denomination, so a complete date set is within the scope of many collectors. The need for this denomination is tied directly the introduction of the 3 Cent stamp in 1849. It is said both the silver three-cent piece and the three-dollar gold piece first struck in 1854 were coined to relieve the Postmaster of the need to make change for the purchase of stamps.
Reference books include: UNITED STATES THREE-CENT AND FIVE-CENT PIECES by Q. David Bowers; A GUIDE BOOK OF UNITED STATES COINS by R.S. Yeoman; and the all encompassing COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF U.S. AND COLONIAL COINS by Walter Breen.

A Highlight Three Cent Silver from our Auctions

1856 Proof PCGS 64

Auction 3279   Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 3:00pm-10:00pm ET
Three Cent Silver This is the Only Page
Lot	Image	Description			Track
1519		1851O PCGS 35
1520		1852 PCGS 40
1521		1853 PCGS 45
1522		1854 PCGS 55 Nearly mint. Well struck.Pleasing surfaces. Toned. This encapsulation features a green CAC hologram label, indicating the coin has met CAC's grading standards.
1523		1855 PCGS 0 This coin has been encapsulated as Genuine by PCGS. The PCGS number ending in .97 suggests Environmental Damage as the reason, or one of the reasons, that PCGS deemed this coin not gradable.
1524		1856 PCGS 58 Nearly mint. Well struck. Pleasing surfaces. Lightly toned. This encapsulation features a green CAC hologram label, indicating the coin has met CAC's grading standards.
1525		1860 PCGS 63 Choice. Well struck. Pleasing surfaces. Lightly toned.
1526		1860 PCGS 64 Nearly Gem. Well struck. Pleasing surfaces. Toned.
1527		1864 Proof NGC 63 Choice. Proof. Deep mirror-like fields. Sharply contrasting heavily frosted devices. Attractively toned. There were 470 Proof coins minted for this date.
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