Three Cent Silvers (1851-1873)
Click on image to see enlargement.
An Overview of Three-Cent Silvers
Patterns
In 1849 a new denomination, the three-cent piece, was suggested. In that year several patterns were made, two of which combined the obverse of a standard silver half dime with the reverse numeral as 3 and III. Another particularly curious piece was simply a combination of these two numbers, 3 and III, one serving as the obverse and the other as the reverse, thus creating the most simplistic pattern ever produced at the Philadelphia Mint. Actually, the piece was not produced as a pattern but was simply made to illustrate the size of the proposed denomination.
In 1851 additional patterns were made. The obverse depicted a liberty cap with rays surrounding. The reverse bore an inscription and a palm branch arranged in a circle.
The Trime Appears
When the silver three-cent piece, or trime as it is sometimes called (in government reports, but rarely by collectors), was first issued in 1851, it was hoped that it would help with postal transactions, for the letter rate was revised to 3c about that time. Also it was hoped that the pieces would relieve some of the demand for large cents. The initial pieces minted 1851-1853 differed from the other silver denominations (half dime to dollar) and contained 75% silver and 25% copper (instead of 90% silver and 10% copper). In later years, from 1854 to 1873, the alloy was the standard 90% silver and 10% copper as used on the larger silver coins.
Some have suggested that during the first several years of its issue the silver three-cent piece was the main silver coin seen in circulation in the country. This may have been true, for the rising price of silver on the international markets caused the hoarding and withdrawal of large denominations. In fact, this situation became so untenable that the Act of February 21, 1853 was passed to reduce the weight of silver coins from the half dime to the half dollar (silver dollars, considered to be bullion coins rather than circulating issues, were not affected, and continued to sell at prices based upon their bullion content, not their face value).
|
