3-Cent Silver (1851-1873): The Tiny Coin with a Big History

The 3-cent silver piece is a coin whose minting was done by the U. S. Mint between 1851 and 1873 but it was rarely minted. This coin has a rich background and was introduced into circulation because of the reduction of the postage rate from five cents to three cents in 1851. The 3-cent silver piece was at first composed of 75% silver and 25% copper in an effort to eliminate the action of melting the coins for their valuable content. These coins of silver are known as “fish scales” and are the tiniest the U.S. Mint has ever issued into circulation. Nevertheless, these coins were even smaller than today’s dimes and weighed only 4/5 of a gram.

In 1854, the circulation of the existing Peso silver coin was shifted to 90%, and in an effort to revive its circulation, its actual weight was reduced to 4/5 of a gram because the thickness of the Peso coin was also reduced.

3-cent coins are usually valued at $20 and can rise steeply depending on the year of minting and the condition, among other aspects.

3-Cent Silver Values and What Dealers Pay

The value of a silver 3-cent piece depends on so many aspects, including the present condition of the coin, its age, the economy, the market, etc. circa 1851 3-Cent silver is worth approximately $20; for uncirculated 1855, they may sell for as high as $600. If you have a 3-cent piece from a desired year or your coin is in very good physical form, then it would be a great idea to submit it to a grading company like PCGS or the NGC.

Also Read: Shield Nickels (1866-1883): The First of America’s Five-Cent Coins

These grading services will examine your coin in detail so as to get the right measure of its state. They will also weigh the coin with a view to establishing its silver content and checking for the genuineness of the coin. When your coin is graded, you are in a position to get a great idea of its value based on its condition, year, etc.

3-Cent Silver Value is Conditional

As you can see, the condition has a very rolling effect on the value of a particular coin. You will certainly want to take a very close look at your 3-cent piece. A basic option for attempting to assess the state of the coin is to look at it. One way to begin with this is to select some of the features of the coin and begin a comparison. For instance, you can view the emblems on the obverse side of the coin; they look like a shield. If the shield is badly worn out and is actually rough to feel with the fingers, then it is possible the coin is well preserved.

If the shield appears reasonably strong but there is a little dent or abrasion, then potentially the coin will be given a fine grade. If the shield appears to be brand new with no evidence on the appearance of the photo that it has been used in circulation, has any defect or has developed any color different from those around the rim of the coin, then it could actually be in extremely fine condition. As you would expect, you will also need to examine the other features of a coin, including any messages or images. This is well spent time, bearing in mind that even the state of the coin plays a major role in its value to dealers and collectors.

Find the 1851-0 Mint Mark

The mint mark for the coin can be found on its rear. This particular piece is well loved by dealers and collectors because the 1851-0 is the only 3-cent silver that was made at a branch mint and not at the Philadelphia mint, where all 3-cent silver coins were struck. These coins may be worth $25 for a coin in very good condition. In an uncirculated state, so as to preserve its luster, a coin may be worth approximately $400.

Also Read: Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963): The Iconic Coin of Mid-Century America

3-Cent Silver Values in the Future

The value of 3-cent silver pieces may probably rise in the future. What is also likely to happen is that the more these dollar coins are aged, the more they become rare for dealers and collectors to find, and the higher the chances that they will be willing to pay a premium for them. In this group, many of the coins, despite being in an uncirculated state, are cheap and anyone from an advanced collector to a novice can buy this precious set of coins.

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