Three Cent Silver (1851-1873)
Mint Location: Philadelphia, New Orleans (1851)
Designer: James Barton Longacre
Composition: 1851 75% silver 25% copper, 1854 90% silver and 10% copper
Weight: 0.8g
Edge Type: Plain
The Three Cent Silver Coins were designed by James Barton Longacre. The obverse design featured a star with a shield in the center, with the inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” around the edge and the date below.
The reverse design of the coin features the denomination represented as the Roman numeral “III” with an ornamental “C” representing “cents”.
There are three Types of Three Cent coins; Type 1, Small Star (1851-1853), Type 2, Large Star, Three Lines (1854-1858), Type 3, Large Star, Two Lines (1859-1873).
Coin Values: The most sought after coin is the 1873 proof, only proofs were minted that year. A 1853 MS66 Type 1 Three Cent sold for $950, a 1858 MS64 Type 2 Three Cent sold for $1300 and a 1871 MS65 Type 3 Proof Three Cent sold for $1750.
