1864 3CS

1866 3CS

1865 3CS (Regular Strike)

Series: Star Three Cent Silvers 1851-1872

PCGS MS69

PCGS MS68+

PCGS #:: 3685

Designer:: James Barton Longacre

Edge:: Plain

Diameter:: 14.30 millimeters

Weight:: 0.75 grams

Mintage:: 8,000

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $180,000 • MS69 • 08-23-2024 • Stack's Bowers

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1865 3CS

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	400	R-6.2	6 / 16	6 / 25
60 or Better	150	R-7.5	7 / 16	7 / 25
65 or Better	50	R-8.5	7 / 16	8 / 25

Survival Estimate
All Grades	400
60 or Better	150
65 or Better	50

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-6.2
60 or Better	R-7.5
65 or Better	R-8.5

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	6 / 16
60 or Better	7 / 16
65 or Better	7 / 16

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	6 / 25
60 or Better	7 / 25
65 or Better	8 / 25

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS69	Stack's Bowers, August 23, 2024, Lot 3033 - $180,000.
2	PCGS MS68+	Stack's Bowers, November 26, 2024, Lot 3006 - $84,000.
2	Est. MS68+	"The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VII," Heritage Auctions, January 16, 2022, Lot 3750 - $75,000; Dell Loy Hansen. This coin is no longer in a PCGS holder.
4	PCGS MS68	Stack's Bowers, April 9, 2025, Lot 3018 - $49,200; Heritage Auctions, September 5, 2026, Lot 3462 - $37,820.
4	PCGS MS68	Stack's Bowers, September 4, 2025, Lot 3022 - $45,600; Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2026, Lot 2012 - $42,700.
4	PCGS MS68
4	PCGS MS68
4	PCGS MS68

#1 PCGS MS69

Stack's Bowers, August 23, 2024, Lot 3033 - $180,000.

#2 PCGS MS68+

Stack's Bowers, November 26, 2024, Lot 3006 - $84,000.

#2 Est. MS68+

"The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VII," Heritage Auctions, January 16, 2022, Lot 3750 - $75,000; Dell Loy Hansen. This coin is no longer in a PCGS holder.

#4 PCGS MS68

Stack's Bowers, April 9, 2025, Lot 3018 - $49,200; Heritage Auctions, September 5, 2026, Lot 3462 - $37,820.

#4 PCGS MS68

Stack's Bowers, September 4, 2025, Lot 3022 - $45,600; Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2026, Lot 2012 - $42,700.

#4 PCGS MS68

Ron Guth:

In keeping with a trend established a couple of years earlier, the mintage of the 1865 Three Cent Silver dropped to a mere 8,000 circulation strikes. The survival of high-grade examples of this date is similar to that of the higher-mintage 1863, but it is harder to find comparable quality examples of the former. This drops the median grade of Mitn State 1865s to the MS63 to MS64 range, with fewer MS66 examples. At the very top of the condition ladder, the 1865 is represented by a single PCGS MS68.

Survivors included fully struck, unclashed examples and frosty, lightly clashed examples. Prooflike examples exist, which creates confusion because Mint State examples are decidely more rare than Proofs.