Numismatic

1851 Three Cent Silver Good

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In 1851, the United States introduced an unusually small silver coin with a face value of three cents. This diminutive piece, minted at the Philadelphia facility, is composed of an alloy containing 75 percent silver and 25 percent copper, yielding a total silver content of just 0.0193 troy ounces. Despite its tiny physical size, the coin played a major role in daily commerce, with a total production of 5,447,400 pieces for the year. The visual presentation of this coin is striking in its simplicity. The front features a prominent six-pointed star with a shield placed directly in the center, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. On the back, the design centers on the Roman numeral III, which clearly denotes the three-cent denomination of the coin. This particular specimen survives in Good condition, showing the honest wear of a coin that passed through many hands during the mid nineteenth century.