Back with the other US trime coin design, but this time in silver 😋
There were three different coin types over the 22 years the silver three-cent was issued (1851-1873). This is a type one coin with quite a bit of wear.
This coin weighs 8/10 of a gram and is 75% silver, which makes this coin's actual silver weight 0.0193oz
The US civil war was fought in the years 1861-1865, during these years silver coins were hoarded by US citizens, which is why the US Mint started making a 3-cent piece out of nickel.
They tried other ways to make coins including encapsulated postage. The way it worked was a normal U. S. stamp was wrapped around a circular cardboard disc and then placed inside a coin-like circular brass jacket. A transparent mica window in the jacket allowed the face of the stamp to be seen.
Mintage numbers for this coin were over 1 million most of the first 7 years this silver 3 cent was minted, then they went way down as the nickel 3 cent was being minted.
So in 1873 they only minted 600 proof coins that were not released for general circulation.
Here's one for sale for just $4750 ☠️
