Produced in the same era as the three cent nickel and like the three cent nickel, the three cent silver was the government's response to hoarding. The original silver content of these coins was more valuable than the actual denomination of this coin. As a result, the government began producing a 75% silver coin that would be more valuable to the general public on face value than if it were hoarded or melted down. The three cent silver is the smallest U.S. coin ever made. Due to its size and its silver color, this coin was nicknamed the 'fish scale'.
| 3c Silver Statistics |
| Issue Dates | 1851-1873 |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Diameter | 14.00 mm/0.55 inch |
| Weight | 1851-1853: 0.80 grams/0.03 ounce |
| Weight | 1854-1873: 0.75 grams/0.02 ounce |
| Composition | 1851-1853: 75% silver, 25% copper |
| Composition | 1854-1873: 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mint mark | 1851-O only, reverse right field |
| Mintage | N/A |
| Source | Count | $ Value | |
| Auction | | | |
| PCGS | 93 | $40,650 | |
| NGC | 66 | $22,878 | |
| ANACS | 78 | $10,639 | |
| ICG | 4 | $0,626 | |
| Subtotal | 241 | $74,794 | |
| Buy It Now |
| PCGS | 26 | $13,476 | |
| NGC | 18 | $15,220 | |
| ANACS | 3 | $1,325 | |
| ICG | 0 | $0,000 | |
| Subtotal | 47 | $30,021 | |
| Total | 288 | $104,815 | |
| Open Auctions |
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 | | Current: | $760.00 | | Bid: | 12 | | Ends: | 4:29 PM |
|  | | Current: | $200.00 | | Bid: | 1 | | Ends: | 8:47 PM |
|  | | Current: | $306.00 | | Bid: | 6 | | Ends: | 10:11 PM |
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| 3c Silver
Market
Prices |
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Attribute |
Value |
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Gray |
first
market price for this item |
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Green |
last
market price greater than previous |
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Red |
last
market price less than previous |
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