1851 Three Cent Pattern - J-A1851-1

Coin Details

Auction Record

$225 UNC Details 08-10-2021 eBay

Description

Judd-A1851-1 is a supplementary three-cent pattern from 1851, the year the three-cent silver denomination was officially authorized and entered circulation. The "A" prefix in the Judd designation indicates this is an addition to the catalog discovered or classified after the original numbering sequence, similar to the "C" prefix convention. The three-cent silver piece, or trime, was authorized by the Act of March 3, 1851, primarily to facilitate the purchase of three-cent postage stamps while also addressing the shortage of small change caused by the hoarding and melting of silver coins during the Gold Rush era. James B. Longacre's adopted design for the trime featured a six-pointed star on the obverse with a small shield at center, and the Roman numeral "III" within a large "C" on the reverse. This pattern may represent a design alternative, die trial, or composition test related to the new denomination's inaugural production year. Patterns from the first year of a new denomination's production are historically significant as they document the final stages of the design development process.

Rarity Notes

R.7 to R.8. Very rare; only a few examples known.

Cross References

Pollock-A1851-1