1853 Silver Three-Cent Piece. MS-67+ (PCGS). CAC. Vividly lustrous and attractively toned with frosty surfaces that border on pristine. Blue and turquoise iridescence accents the obverse, while deeper bronze and crimson toning frames the borders on each side. This piece is one of the very finest certified, as neither PCGS nor CAC have seen a finer example of the issue. It is tied with the magnificent Pogue specimen and the record-setting example from our June 2021 Auction that sold for $38,400.<p>The first three years of the new silver three-cent piece saw the greatest numbers struck, along with the only issue struck at a branch mint. Initially the new silver three-cent pieces circulated widely and were indeed primarily used for postage stamps as was intended. Soon, the coins small size proved to be its greatest weakness; they were frequently damaged or lost, plus they tended to discolor easily compared to the larger silver coins that included more silver. This earned the silver three-cent pieces the sobriquet of "fish scales" in common parlance. Production reached its zenith in 1852, and remained strong in 1853 with over 11 million struck.<p>While a decent number of Choice pieces are known, early date three-cent silver at the MS-65 level become more of a challenge. Superb Gem specimens are the exceptions and are eagerly sought. Here is a beautiful coin that would be just right for the finest Registry Set or type collection.
