1869/8 Three Cent Piece......how Can You Tell.

I looked at the PCGS Coinfacts site and examined the 1869 and the 1869/8. I'm stumped.

I did see a reference on the heritage site that mentioned that this is an incorrect attribution identified by Breen, but has been later identified as a RPD. Can't speak to the veracity of that though.

Edit: Here is a link to that Heritage Reference.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/proof-thre.../1239-5407.s

Fabulous coin due to condition, excellent pictures.

I cannot see any evidence of die re cutting in the date area.

I need some other opinions to re educate me.

I sent it in to be slabbed and was pleasantly surprised.


Sorry for the rotated image.

Here is how Breen describes it in his Encyclopedia of US coins.

" The 6 is over a differently shaped 6; base of 8 plain within lower part of 9, the curves not matching."

I can't see it, but someone who specializes in 3 cent silver probably would. Sometimes photos don't show things if the lighting or angles are wrong.

Nice coin!

Mintage: 4,500 business strikes, 600 proofs

Hot Topics: Walter Breen claimed ... that there was a 1869/68 overdate. This is just a repunched date and not an overdate.

1869 PR Repunched Date RDP-001 (page 90)

(My note: Often for the later years a proof die was reused for business strikes)

Repunched 6 north seen above the middle of the 6
Repunched 9 north seen above the bottom and middle of the 9

Comments: Breen calls this a 69/8 overdate. Studying the repunched 9 in the lower loop of the 9, it is obvious that the curve is sloping downward like a 9. An 8 would have formed a semicircle.



Could be a trick of the lighting... on OP's coin, the marker for the 6 is clear *light blue* arrows, but the 9 *yellow arrows* is less so.


Nice pickup- If you are going to collect 3CS, you need a copy of "The Authoritative Reference on Three Cent Silver Coins" by Kevin Flynn and Winston Zack (c) 2010.

Yes, Flyyn & Zack (F&Z or TAR3CS) is the book.

I'm quite jealous of your purchase... About the only saving grace is that my 3CS set is XF/AU (circulated)...

For several years, the # of dies used is known, and often quite small. Not 1869. But not impossible that a proof die was reused (I have one PR RPD on a business strike coin).

I need to grab my 1869 3CS (PCGS XF45) and see whether it has the markers...

I got to know what to look for in the future.
There is a big price difference between the 1869 and this coin.