The silver Three Cent coin is the smallest U.S. silver coin ever placed into circulation (and the second-smallest diameter coin of any denomination or metal - only Coronet-type $1 gold pieces are smaller). It is also the lightest in weight of any U.S. coin.

These silver coins were minted for circulation from 1851 through 1872. The coin was issued only in a Proof version for 1873.

Silver Three Cent pieces are sometimes nicknamed "Trimes" to distinguish them from the copper-nickel Three Cent coins (popularly referred to as "Three Cent Nickels") which circulated alongside the silver variety beginning in 1865.

The reason most often given for introduction of this denomination was that it made purchasing postage more convenient. At the time, postage had to be purchased using Legal Tender, and One-Cent coins were not Legal Tender (the cent and nickel did not gain full Legal Tender status until the Coinage Act of 1964). This forced people to pay for postage using other, precious-metal U.S. or Spanish coinage. Because the price of mailing a letter had just been reduced from five cents to three cents, the new coin caught on immediately - people didn't want to pay with silver or gold, only to get copper coins back as change.  The larger copper-nickel Three Cent piece was introduced during the Civil War, and from that point, the silver version was only minted in very small quantities, until the silver piece was eventually abolished.

The Design...

The obverse of silver Three Cent coins display the Union shield lying on top of a six-pointed star. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" surround the star, with the date at the bottom, below the star and shield. A plain, narrow raised border along the rim surrounds the whole. The design is often weakly struck, with wear tending to occur first along the edges and on the high points of the shield.

The reverse is dominated by a large, scrolled letter "C" enclosing the Roman numeral "III" (denoting "3 Cents"). This device is surrounded by 13 six-pointed stars. As on the obverse, a plain raised border runs along the rim.

The edge of the coin is plain (non-reeded), and its diameter is 14 mm. The weight of an undamaged silver Three Cent piece minted between 1851 and 1853 should be 0.8 grams (75% silver and 25% copper). In coins issued from 1854 through 1873, the percentage of silver was increased (though the amount of silver was reduced), and the weight should be 0.75 grams (90% silver and 10% copper).

Because the coin is so thin, the design from the other side sometimes shows through if strongly struck. Coins also can become bent and creased. And as these coins were used so heavily and most were shallowly struck, many which survive have been worn down almost unrecognizably.

Except for a run of coins in 1851 at the New Orleans Mint, all other silver Three Cent coins were struck at the Philadelphia mint, and thus do not bear a mint mark. For the New Orleans strikes, the mint mark (O) is located on the right-side of the reverse, between the upper and lower arms of the C.

Variations...

Slight variations in the design occurred over the life of this coin. From 1851 to 1853, the star on the obverse is not outlined. From 1854 through 1858, the star has a raised double outline. Coins from 1859 through 1873 have a single raised outline around the star.

The reverse for coins from 1853 onward also feature an olive branch and a bundle of three arrows enclosed inside the large C (the branch is above and the arrows below the Roman numeral III).

While dates for most 1873 silver coinage can exist as either earlier "closed 3" or later "open 3" forms, only "closed 3" type dates are known for silver Three Cent proofs minted for that year.

Over-struck dates are also known for 1862 (over 1861), 1863 (over 1862) and 1869 (over 1868).

Mintage Figures...

• 1851 (P): 5,447,400
  1851 (O): 720,000
• 1852 (P): 18,663,500
• 1853 (P): 11,400,000
• 1854 (P): 671,000
• 1855 (P): 139,000
• 1856 (P): 1,458,000
• 1857 (P): 1,042,000
• 1858 (P): 1,604,000
• 1859 (P): 365,000
• 1860 (P): 286,000
  1860 (P - proof): 1000
• 1861 (P): 497,000
  1861 (P - proof): 1000
• 1862 (P): 343,000
  1862 (P - proof): 500-600 (struck in 1864)
• 1863 (P): 21,000 (figure for 1863-struck coins uncertain)
  1863 (P - proof): 450-500 (struck in 1864)
• 1864 (P): 12,000 (figure for 1864-struck coins uncertain)
  1864 (P - proof): 450-500
• 1865 (P): 8,000
  1865 (P - proof): 500
• 1866 (P): 22,000
  1866 (P - proof): 725
• 1867 (P): 4,000
  1867 (P - proof): 625
• 1868 (P): 3,500
  1868 (P - proof): 600
• 1869 (P): 4,500
  1869 (P - proof): 600
• 1870 (P): 3,000
  1870 (P - proof): 1000
• 1871 (P): 3,400
  1871 (P - proof): 960
• 1872 (P): 1,000
  1872 (P - proof): 950
• 1873 (P - proof): 600

(some authorities report proofs exist prior to 1860, but figures are unknown. Proof figures for dates prior to 1871 are approximate)

The U.S. silver Three Cent coins are a fascinating oddity to the average person today. It was struck and circulated in large quantities, meaning that affordable examples can be still found. Because of the design, however, many of the available examples are worn or damaged. But collectors of U.S. coinage feel the draw of acquiring examples of this smallest, and historically fascinating, U.S. silver coin.

Other subjects on which I've written recent Guides...
Other Collectible Coins
Gemstones

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