Has anyone put together a date set of 3Cent Silver Pieces in MS? Tough? Fun? Popularity?

marcmoish

OK OK, maybe I'm not clear. I rephrased my inquiry

Marc

Trime

marcmoish,
I collect 3 cent silvers in ms and proof. It is a great series because there are a lot of low population coins because so many were melted. You can collect the whole series but some of the mid and late 1860s business strikes are challenging to find. The type one proofs are extremely rare and the type two proofs can be expensive in the higher grades. The series is not too popular with collectors possibly because of the small size of the coins and there are no real good reference books. For whatever reason I really enjoy collecting these fishscales.

wingedliberty

Marc:
3c silvers are great, but as you say, expensive in unc, but a great project to consider.

Happy holidays,
Brian.

greghansen

Yea, I think the size is a drawback for some, myself included. I have a nice PR67 as a type coin, but other than that could never get too worked up about them. Rather than a full date set, I think I would just do a 3 coin type set of each variety first. All three varieties can be had at reasonable prices. Only when you start trying to fill the date set from 1863-1873 do you start running into serious money even in the low grades.

wingedliberty

Greg:
I think you're right, alot of collectors take your approach from a type collecting perspective.


Brian.

Trime

marcmoish,
To be more explicit, I have( had) a complete set of MS and Proof (excluding type 1 proof) trimes including varieties and most overdates.
Took a few years and some $.

marcmoish

Sounds doable but expensive, might just try the 3 Types for starters and see how much it appeals to me to continue filling in the dates as an option. Thnks for the comments gentlemen!

mrcommem

I like those small fishscales. I have been looking for a nice 51-o for almost two years. Seems these coins are very difficult to find in any date in MS63-64 that are attractive. Most are dark and poorly struck. I would like to find a nice rainbow toned coin.

BigD5

I've done a type set of 3 cent silvers. I like 'em. Just can't afford a whole set. I still pick up attractive examples when I find them. Can't help myself with them. Same goes with Flying Eagle Cents. Just can't put a nice one down.

sadysta1

They are good for "younger" collectors since thaey are so small. Do not buy them in NGC coffins or you'll not be able to see them very well do to the thickness of the slab

BillJones

If you can resist grades like PR and MS 65+, the set is financially doable. The trouble is the Mint State coins from 1863 to 1873. They are all very scarce and hard to find. I've had a couple of those dates in MS-64 and have sold them for just over $1,000 in the past. I've not seen any lately however.

You can get rainbow toned pieces in the type 2 and 3 dates. Many of them are Proofs. I don't think it's possible to get a Type 1 with great colorful toning. The 75% silver, 25% copper alloy just doesn't tone very nicely.

dorkkarl

trying to get a complete date set by itself is tough enough, been working on my set for YEARS. yes, it's expensive, & yes, like billjones said, type-1 is very difficult to locate w/ pretty tone - if you find a "white" one, guarantee it has been dipped, proofs included. "original" white coins DO NOT exist (so it seems)!

good luck, an extremely worthwhile series that will definitely keep you challenged. you can't just flop into any ol' heritage or teletrade auction & pick 'em up, it's a series you will have to work at.

K S

coinguy1

In reference to Type l "proofs" - Type l "proof", is more like it.

I know of only one, single, solitary, unique (get the picture from my redundancy?) bona-fide Type l proof, that being the 1851 that sold in the Eliasberg sale. It was later certified as PR66 by NGC and eventually crossed into a PCGS PR66 holder. I placed it with a client approximately a year ago.

It is easily among the most exciting coins I have ever handled. I have bought and sold more expensive coins (this one was in the $80,000 range) but this is in all probability, a UNIQUE type coin!

A few uncertified pieces have been offered as proofs in public auctions over the years but they were jokes. I have never seen another type l that looked anything like the 1851 and don't expect to in the future. What a coin!

Trime

Mark,
I had a discussion with Doug Winters last year about Trimes and he had talked about several type 1 proofs that he had handled. I was very very surprised. I meant to mention this when we talked recently about the 1851 proof. I will try to clarify this with Doug and make sure there was no miscommunication. At any rate I would have sold a lot of coins to afford to buy the one you had and sold.

coinguy1

Trime, I am very confident that it was a misunderstanding between you and Doug Winter concerning Type 1 proof 3 cent silvers!

Trime

Mark,
Probably so but I remember the discussion.
At the time I was not aware of your specimen either and said to myself "Oh; Wow; Makes a complete set sort of difficult"

ScarsdaleCoin

Have 2 toot my own horn....been doing 3c silvers for years....we are one of the only dealers to specialize in trimes...feel free to visit our web site www.coinhelp.com and yes we have some sets up on the registry! Jon