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Silver Three Cent Piece (1851 - 1873)

Three Cent Piece Silver General Grading Standards
G4 Good - Star worn smooth. Legend and date readable.
VG8 Very Good - Outline of shield defined. Legend and date clear.
F12 Fine - Only star points worn smooth.
VF20 Very Fine - Only partial wear on star ridges.
EF40 Extremely Fine - Ridges on star points show.
AU50 About Uncirculated - Star shows trace of wear at each point. Center of shield may be weak.
MS60 Uncirculated - No trace of wear. Light blemishes.
MS63 Select Uncirculated - Some distracting contact marks or blemishes in prime focal areas. Luster may be impaired.

No Outline Around Star (1851-1853)

1852 Silver Three Cent Piece Obverse  1852 Silver Three Cent Piece Reverse
Image Courtesy of Bobby131313's Coins
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Designer: James Barton Longacre Weight: .8 grams
Diameter: 14.3 millimeters Edge: Plain
Content: 75% silver 25% copper  
Year/ Mint Mark Circulation Strikes Proof Strikes
1851 5,447,400 About 10
1851 O 720,000 1
1852 18,663,500 1
1853 11,400,000 0

Double Outline Around Star (1854-1858)

1854 Silver Three Cent Piece Obverse  1854 Silver Three Cent Piece Reverse
Image Courtesy of MidAtlantic Coins, LLC
Designer: James Barton Longacre Weight: .75 grams
Diameter: 14.3 millimeters Edge: Plain
Content: 90% silver 10% copper  
Year/ Mint Mark Circulation Strikes Proof Strikes
1854 671,000 About 20
1855 139,000 About 40
1856 1,458,000 About 40
1857 1,042,000 About 75
1858 1,604,000 About 250

Single Outline Around Star (1859-1873)

1862 Silver Three Cent Piece Obverse and Reverse
Image Courtesy of MidAtlantic Coins, LLC
Designer: James Barton Longacre Weight: .75 grams
Diameter: 14.3 millimeters Edge: Plain
Content: 90% silver 10% copper  
Year/ Mint Mark Circulation Strikes Proof Strikes
1859 365,000 800
1860 286,000 1,000
1861 497,000 1,000
1862 343,000 550
1863 21,000 460
1864 12,000 470
1865 8,000 500
1866 22,000 725
1867 4,000 625
1868 3,500 600
1869 4,500 600
1870 3,000 1,000
1871 3,400 960
1872 1,000 950
1873 0 600

Mint Mark Legend:

Just right of the opening of the C on the reverse.

Mint Mark Mint Date of Operation
None Philadelphia 1793-present
O New Orleans, LA 1838-1861; 1879-1909
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