Silver Coins

Buying Recommendations

Silver Three-Cent Pieces (1851-1873)

In 1851 the silver three-cent piece made its appearance and became the smallest silver piece ever to be produced by the United States. The denomination, officially called a trime (but few collectors have ever used the term), was intended to facilitate the purchase of three-cent stamps at the post office. Although production quantities were generous during the first several years of production the three-cent piece soon fell out of favor, and after the Civil War few were produced (except Proofs for collectors), although the denomination did not expire until 1873.

Silver three-cent pieces were produced in three varieties. The first, struck from 1851 to 1853, bears on the obverse a plain six-pointed star. The second variety, produced from 1854 through 1858, has three lines bordering the star, while the third type, produced from 1859 through 1873, has two outlines. Pieces made from 1854 onward have an olive branch over the denomination III on the reverse and a bundle of three arrows below it. Trimes of the first type, 1851-1853, are composed of .750 silver and .250 copper, an alloy not used elsewhere in American coinage. Beginning in 1854 the alloy was changed to .900 silver and .100 copper, the standard used on other silver denominations.

In general, silver three-cent pieces of the type I style (1851-1853) are readily available in Mint State, although MS-65 pieces may prove elusive. This type contains the only variety struck at a branch mint: the 1851-O, which in higher grades is elusive. During the period 1851-1853 over 35 million coins were produced, thus accounting for their availability today.

By contrast, the total mintage of the 1854-1858 type II style amounted to less than five million pieces. Most examples of the type II design are lightly struck, especially around the border lettering on the obverse. The Mint had a great deal of difficulty in making the revised motif strike up sharply, and this is why after 1858 the design was again modified. Striking sharpness was not a problem later. Type II pieces are very elusive in high grades, and MS-63, MS-64, and MS-65 coins, especially if well struck, are considered rare. Some Proofs were struck for collectors, but not more than a few dozen each year until 1858, when 80 were produced. Proofs are occasionally seen and may fill the bill for the numismatist looking for high grade examples.