1851 Proof Silver Three Cent Piece

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Description

The 1851 Proof Silver Three Cent Piece is a proof silver three-cent piece struck at the Philadelphia Mint, part of the Silver Three Cent Pieces 1851-1873 series. Only one 1851 proof is known, once part of the Eliasberg collection. Proof mintages were not recorded until 1858, so there is no Mint figure for this date. The obverse features a six-pointed star enclosing a Union shield and the reverse displays a Roman numeral III (three) within a large letter C. First year of the Silver Three-Cent Piece, introduced to facilitate purchasing the newly reduced three-cent postage stamps. The 1851-O is the only branch mint issue in the entire series. As a proof issue, this coin was struck multiple times on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, producing mirror-like fields and frosted design elements. Struck in 75% silver, 25% copper, weighing 0.8 grams, 14 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #3696.