New Finest Known Three-Cent Silver, 1865 MS-69 CAC

ChopmarkedTrades

PCGS Cert Page: https://www.pcgs.com/cert/49730458

Stack's Listing: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1B97YY/1865-silver-three-cent-piece-repunched-date-ms-69-pcgs-cac

Description from Stack's:

"Ultimate 1865 Three-Cent Silver

The Only MS-69 Certified for the Entire Series

1865 Silver Three-Cent Piece. Repunched Date. MS-69 (PCGS). CAC.

A phenomenal condition rarity whose existence in such a pristine state of preservation nearly defies belief. As perfect a coin as one could hope to see in a circulation strike three-cent silver, enchanting surfaces are silky smooth in texture without so much as a single detracting blemish. The fields are modestly semi-reflective and host clash marks (as made), which are present on most examples of the issue with which we are familiar and suggest early clashing of this die pairing. Satiny and fully impressed, the devices are set apart in a manner that provides some semblance of cameo contrast as the coin dips into a light. Otherwise brilliant, blushes of reddish-gold iridescence engage the peripheries, along with a crescent of bolder cobalt blue patina along the left obverse border. To see this coin is to admire it for both its exceptional eye appeal and awesome technical quality.

The trend of limited circulation strike silver three-cent issues that began early in the Civil War reached a low for the era of 8,000 pieces in 1865. Survivors are elusive even in worn condition, while Mint State examples are scarce to rare in all grades. At the pinnacle of numismatic preservation, this pristine beauty is of the utmost rarity and desirability. It is the only silver three-cent piece of any issue, across all three major design types, that has received an MS-69 grade from PCGS and NGC. The ultimate type coin, and a landmark condition rarity within the silver three-cent series, the significance and fleeting nature of this offering can hardly be overstated. It is not every day that a true wonder coin appears on the open market and, once this coin finds its way into a tightly held collection, it will likely be many years, if not decades before collectors are given another opportunity to pursue this exquisite Ultra Gem trime.

Combined PCGS and NGC Population (all issues in this series): just 1; 0 finer."

MrEureka

You know that’s not a Trade Dollar, right?

GAC

it is one of the nicest pre 1900 coins I have ever seen in hand. Who ever wins this in auction is going to be extremely happy.

ChopmarkedTrades

@MrEureka said:
You know that’s not a Trade Dollar, right?

I guess that's just how nice of a coin it is, to make me look in a different direction.

jacrispies

Truly mind boggling...

jesbroken

@MrEureka said:
You know that’s not a Trade Dollar, right?

TV photo looks big enough. Maybe add a chopmark.
Jim

gtstang

That's an amazing coin!
According to coinfacts, a pcgs 70 sold on eBay for $113 😂

291fifth

It will be interesting to see just how much it brings. Small coins like silver three cent pieces just don't seem to have the sizzle the large coins generate.

fc

Is there a reason the die might leave the same little mark (small scratch?) right next to the shield on the left?

https://coins.ha.com/itm/three-cent-silver/1865-3cs-ms68-pcgs-cac/a/1341-3750.s#

P0CKETCHANGE

There was some speculation on Reddit that this was the MS68+ Simpson example that was dipped and retoned, but I had neither the time nor interest to look into it. The person who posted it on Reddit claimed to be the submitter but was evasive about answering questions about the coin’s origin.

CRHer700

The clashed die is very nice. Adds to the eye appeal for me.

fc

And then here is another coin.. MS66 this time with the same "mark" in ?nearly? the same position? Could the die/minting process have left this mark that seems to be on different coins?

https://coins.ha.com/itm/three-cent-silver/1865-3cs-ms66-pcgs-cac-pcgs-3685-/a/1228-98105.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515#

hummingbird_coins

@P0CKETCHANGE said:
There was some speculation on Reddit that this was the MS68+ Simpson example that was dipped and retoned, but I had neither the time nor interest to look into it. The person who posted it on Reddit claimed to be the submitter but was evasive about answering questions about the coin’s origin.

The MS69 has a little line of toning(?) on ME of AMERICA. The MS68+ does not. This makes me think they are two different coins.

Davidk7

@P0CKETCHANGE said:
There was some speculation on Reddit that this was the MS68+ Simpson example that was dipped and retoned, but I had neither the time nor interest to look into it. The person who posted it on Reddit claimed to be the submitter but was evasive about answering questions about the coin’s origin.

They're wrong. This coin is fresh and this was the first time it got slabbed. I got to see it in hand, absolutely ridiculous coin.

fc

once again... It must be the minting process right?

https://coins.ha.com/itm/three-cent-silver/1865-3cs-ms65-ngc-pcgs-3685-/a/1181-3277.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

RobertScotLover

Why isn't anyone discussing the obvious re the ms69. You got what must be a properly dipped example that was put in what must be an older ngc holder at some point to pick up the relatively newish gorgeous blue peripheral toning and or another type of paper storage with enough of a sulphur content in parts. BTW I have seen high end coins with the exact same marks in common between then, obviously from the minting process, same die marriage material

Mr_Spud

@fc said:
Is there a reason the die might leave the same little mark (small scratch?) right next to the shield on the left?

https://coins.ha.com/itm/three-cent-silver/1865-3cs-ms68-pcgs-cac/a/1341-3750.s#

Do you mean the Clash Mark?

Here’s an overlay of the 69 one showing where the clash marks come from

airplanenut

@fc said:
Is there a reason the die might leave the same little mark (small scratch?) right next to the shield on the left?

https://coins.ha.com/itm/three-cent-silver/1865-3cs-ms68-pcgs-cac/a/1341-3750.s#

All of your examples are clash marks. Whether it’s the same die pair or not, clashes will generally be in the same position because properly aligned sets of dies will have the same design elements opposing them

fc

Shurke

Holy smokes, what a trime!

Mr_Spud

@fc yeah, now I see what you are referring to. That’s not a clash, but if it is raised it’s probably some kind of die gouge

TrickleCharge

@P0CKETCHANGE said:
There was some speculation on Reddit that this was the MS68+ Simpson example that was dipped and retoned, but I had neither the time nor interest to look into it. The person who posted it on Reddit claimed to be the submitter but was evasive about answering questions about the coin’s origin.

Does not appear to be the Simpson coin

oldslab

I am wary about buying high grade coins....only some 8 million coins have been graded by the grading services pcgs, anacs, cacg, ngc and others.....that is a small fraction of coins minted....if i paid a 125K and another showed up next year would would value be? I look to the trevails of the MS68 Buffalo Nickel....i sold one at great collections a few months back for about 1800...they seem to drop hundreds every year as the population grows...5 now pending at GC...buy the coin, not the holder, I learned that lesson...

P0CKETCHANGE

@Davidk7 said:

@P0CKETCHANGE said:
There was some speculation on Reddit that this was the MS68+ Simpson example that was dipped and retoned, but I had neither the time nor interest to look into it. The person who posted it on Reddit claimed to be the submitter but was evasive about answering questions about the coin’s origin.

They're wrong. This coin is fresh and this was the first time it got slabbed. I got to see it in hand, absolutely ridiculous coin.

Any details on the coin’s origin? If from a fresh collection, were there other treasures and rarities? I am fascinated by these kinds of finds.

lermish

@P0CKETCHANGE said:

@Davidk7 said:

@P0CKETCHANGE said:
There was some speculation on Reddit that this was the MS68+ Simpson example that was dipped and retoned, but I had neither the time nor interest to look into it. The person who posted it on Reddit claimed to be the submitter but was evasive about answering questions about the coin’s origin.

They're wrong. This coin is fresh and this was the first time it got slabbed. I got to see it in hand, absolutely ridiculous coin.

Any details on the coin’s origin? If from a fresh collection, were there other treasures and rarities? I am fascinated by these kinds of finds.

I'm on my phone so not easy to download a bunch of TVs but at least the next 10 sequential cert #s are all some pretty special 3 cent silvers. Worth a look.

EDIT: So maybe an old 3CS collection? Seems reasonable.

DelawareDoons

Neat coin for sure.

braddick

@MrEureka said:
You know that’s not a Trade Dollar, right?

You'de have to trade about 100,000 dollars to purchase this coin.

tcollects

I'm imagining someone like James Stack having an envelope of these in a box in his safe and this is one of the nicest ones. It would be interesting if someone simply had a package of 30 or 300 of these, and a dealer eventually got them when they were still almost moderns at the time. You know who would know - ol' RB - in the spirit of unity, as long as he doesn't careen off the high rail bridge, it would be great to have him back to whip up a mini dissertation about exactly how 3c silvers were distributed from the mint in 1865, he might even have the old counter order sheet. But then we'd need insider back to balance the force by arguing the exact opposite, and eventually it blossoms into a full weekend septuagenarian slap off.

hummingbird_coins

For those who haven't looked, all 14 coins in the submission are 1865 3CS, with grades ranging from MS66+ to MS68+, along with the sole MS69. All have similar toning.

ScarsdaleCoin

Super hoard from the Philly area. Coins are super. Just goes to show one never knows what turns up