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 3283   Sunday, May 27, 2012 from 3:00pm-10:00pm ET
Three Cent Silver This is the Only Page
Lot	Image	Description			Track
1236		1852 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.
1237		1862/1 NGC 58 Nearly mint. Well struck. Pleasing surfaces. Toned. There were 343,000 coins minted for this date with an unknown quantity as this over date.
1238		1862/1 PCGS 64 Nearly Gem. Well struck.Pleasing surfaces. Lightly toned. There were 343,000 coins minted for this date.
1239		1867 ANACS 55 Nearly mint. Well struck.Pleasing surfaces. Lightly toned. Semi-Proof-like.
Auction 3284   Monday, May 28, 2012 from 3:00pm-10:00pm ET
Three Cent Silver
Lot	Image	Description			Track
1192		1851 PCGS 0 This coin has been encapsulated as Genuine by PCGS. The PCGS number ending in .92 suggests Cleaning as the reason, or one of the reasons, that PCGS deemed this coin not gradable.
1193		1858 PCGS 65 Gem. Well struck. Pleasing surfaces. Attractively toned.
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