1856 Silver Three-Cent Piece. MS-66 (NGC). A lovely example that is sure to sell for a strong bid. Both sides are lightly toned in champagne-gold iridescence with subtle powder blue and pale pink undertones evident under a light. Satiny luster is smooth and vibrant throughout, and the strike is suitably bold for an example of this challenging design type.<p>Although the silver three-cent pieces produced from 1851 to 1853 were composed of 75% silver and 25% copper, a supplement to the Act of February 21, 1853, that Congress passed on March 3, brought the composition of this denomination in line with that of other subsidiary silver coins then in use. Accordingly, and beginning in 1854, silver three-cent pieces would be struck in a standard silver alloy of 90% silver, 10% copper through the series end in 1873. In order to distinguish pieces struck in this revised composition, the Mint revised the design slightly by raising the border of the star and adding two extra lines to further outline this device. This design, known in numismatics as the Type II silver three-cent piece, proved short lived and was replaced with the Type III design in 1859, which dropped one of the two extra outlines around the star.<p>Due at least in part to its brevity, the Type II is the scarcest and most conditionally challenging of the silver three-cent designs. Few examples are as nicely preserved as the present Gem. It is among the finest certified by NGC, and also among the finest currently obtainable for both the issue and the type. A lovely trime that is sure to appeal to numerous eager bidders. PCGS# 3672. NGC ID: 22Z5. NGC Census: 6; 0 finer at this service.
