1851-O Silver Three-Cent Piece. MS-67 (PCGS). A fully sensational example with eye appeal to match the superior preservation. Pearly and brilliant luster dominates the centers while a blend of olive-gold, magenta, and sapphire blue toning surrounds at the border. This color is enhanced by considerable reflectivity in the fields on both sides. <p>The 1851-O silver three-cents represents the only branch mint coinage in any denomination smaller than a half dime prior to the 1908-S Indian cent issue. While 720,000 examples were struck, only about 3,500 coins, or 0.05%, survive today. Most are well circulated and even the few Mint State survivors are confined to lower grades of MS-64 and below. At the Superb Gem level, this piece ranks as the sole finest 1851-O graded by PCGS and also sits confidently among the best of the Type I issues.
