Numismatic

1851 Three Cent Silver MS-63 PCGS

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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, struck from a silver alloy with a purity of 0.750, represents a unique moment in American coinage. Weighing just a fraction of an ounce, this specific specimen has survived in remarkable condition, graded as Mint State 63 (MS-63). The design, created by James Longacre, is both intricate and distinctive for its size. The obverse features a prominent six-pointed star with a protective shield nestled at its center. This star motif is surrounded by the year of issue, 1851. On the reverse, the coin displays its denomination using the Roman numeral III, which is nestled inside an ornate, stylized letter C. This elegant combination of a shield, a star, and classical numbering makes the three-cent silver piece one of the most visually intriguing issues of the pre-1933 era.