Offered here is an 1851 three cent silver piece (the "trime") from the Philadelphia Mint, from the first year of issue. This is the Type 1 design, struck only from 1851 to 1853, with no outline around the six-pointed star. The trime was the smallest silver coin the United States ever made, created to buy the new three-cent postage stamps.
Grade: VF (Very Fine). The shield's horizontal lines and vertical stripes are all present and separate, the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is bold and complete, and the rims are full. On the reverse, the III, the beads and diamond of the ornamented C, and all 13 stars are sharp. The star shows even wear across its face and points.
Condition, please read: in fairness, the 5 in the date is weak and only partly visible, from wear and a soft strike in that spot (Type 1 trimes are often weakly struck); the date still reads 1851. There is a small mark on the star just above the shield, a few light marks in the obverse fields, and a faint hairline in the reverse field right of the III. Even gray-gold toning that looks original. Please see all the photos, which are the best description.
Mint: Philadelphia (no mint mark)
Mintage: 5,447,400
Composition: 75% silver, 25% copper
Designer: James B. Longacre
Condition: Ungraded (raw coin, not certified)
The coin shown is the exact coin you will receive.
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