Silver Three Cent Pieces(Trimes) (1851-1873) Let's see them

That's a very nice '62 - not the best strike, but over all gorgeous...

Apropos of what I was saying ATS about the diff between a 65 and 67, see what I meant by the sharp edges of the diamond on the reverse?

 

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It's hard to see from your images but check the reverse for a ddr. There is one for the 62,also maybe again just trying to see the image enlarged but the 1 and the 2 looks to be repunched . There's no 1862 rpd listed,yet....

 

I am pretty sure anything you see is a combination of lighting effects, Longacre doubling, and just a touch of machine doubling. I did not see any DDs on this coin when I checked it.

 

That's cool your images aren't bad just hard to enlarge without distortion . As it looked as the 1 and 2 were repunched , and yes the reverse could well be longacer doubling looking at the image again. Nice coin.

 

What is your thoughts on this one?

 

Major PIDT - see the outlines of the C on star side and the more common star on the C side?

I would need to see it in hand, the top of the diamond on the reverse is either cabinet friction or just the strike. In it's favor you have the outline of the C which doesn't usually survive circulation. But there is just something odd about the over all surface.

 

I know that pic was horrible. It was night late and I was flying to Houston in the am so it was bad!!

 

Mintage 671,000




Here is a fantastic book on the series.

 

Gang, have you noticed that these trimes are volnerable to rim dings?

 

It is very hard to find one with no issues at all. When you do be prepared to pay dearly for it.

 

Especially on the rarer dates... You see it in the TPG stats, in the % of details coins.

For example (at NGC) 1878 8TF Morgan - 11,395 graded, 819 details or 6.7%

1851 3CS - 1258 and 153 details or 10.8%
1851O 3CS - 465 and 94 details or 16.8%
1870 3CS - 91 and 12 details or 11.7%

 

Another question that always puzzles me is this....
On quite a few series that the US mint produced they produced huge numbers of coins then towards the end of the series or mid way the numbers drop like a rock.
Especially the odd coinage three cent pieces , two cent pieces , half dimes. Even some of the Morgans low mintage's and then the melt down.

 

They met the need...

Remember this is 1850. Don't have a post office on every corner and supermarkets selling stamps. A business in town might go to the PO and purchase several stamps for their use, but not individuals, especially the 3/4ths who lived in rural america. You handed the letter to the carrier with three copper large cents. Or a half dime and got two coppers back.

Mint 11m in 1851 and 18m in 1852 and you've met most of the need. 6m in 1853 and after that mintages drop FAST.

Remember, in the earliest days the mint didn't do a lot of on-spec coining. You brought your silver or gold into the mint and asked for what you wanted. I'm not sure about the 1850s...

 

nice clashed '55

AU55 maybe - there is a touch of wear on the highest points of the reverse (Diamond, arrow and ribbon), obverse looks pristine.

 

Is there a problem with contemporay counterfeits of trimes (i.e. counterfeits made back during the years they were being minted)? I forget where I read that buying raw trimes is relatively risky.

 

Are there contemporary counterfeits? Heck yeah - I own two. Actually often more valuable that the real thing.

But not hard to tell... letters are off and especially with type 2s and 3s - the lines around the star are not perfectly straight.

It's a civil war thing. When the war started first the silver coins were hoarded. Then ultimately to the lightweight trimes and even the copper coins were hoarded. People look real carefully at a dollar, half dollar or a quarter. Those were real money - a lot of purchasing power. But the trimes are tiny, might not have been seen for a couple years, and might have successfully passed in the hurly-burly of the market.

 

Even more then rim dings. I see a ton of these that are bent. I also see a lot especially type 1 that are well worn. Many are ag-vg. And a lot of those are damaged or bent

 

beautiful clashed/toned trime, Larry!

 

Insurance shot. I'll see if I can do better later this week.