Numismatic

1859 Three Cent Silver VF

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In 1859, the United States Mint produced a remarkably diminutive coin that holds a special place in American numismatic history. Containing just 0.0217 troy ounces of 90 percent pure silver, this three-cent piece represents the smallest physical denomination ever struck for general circulation by the nation's mint. Its tiny size makes it an intriguing marvel of nineteenth-century minting technology. The design, created by James Longacre, packs intricate details onto a miniature canvas. The obverse features a prominent shield set against a large, six-pointed star, surrounded by the legend of the issuing country and the 1859 date. On the reverse, the coin displays an ornate Roman numeral three, clearly indicating its face value. This particular specimen survives in Very Fine condition, showing the honest wear of a coin that once passed through the hands of everyday citizens in the years leading up to the American Civil War.