3 CENT SILVERS ARE NEAT COINS !

PQpeace · June 21, 2005 1:05PM

3 Cent Silver Uncs are such neat looking coins...how come there are only a few registry sets ??

Anyone here collect them ?

I have seen many uncs with eye appealing toning.

I may have to start a set..

comments ?
Larry

airplanenut · June 21, 2005 1:07PM

I think one problem people have is that they're so danged tiny... that makes them hard to see in general, and also hard to grade/spot problems, simply because imperfections are so much smaller.

That said, I agree with you--they're very neat coins!

robertpr · June 21, 2005 1:24PM

I agree they're fantastic little coins. They tone up very very nicely too, but they look awesome raw as well. I bought one raw from Coinlieutenant, awesomely toned, that I had holdered by NGC for preservation. It's still in my collection and most likely won't be going anywhere for quite a while. Anyway when I got it from CoinLt. my jaw just about hit the floor when I saw how small they were (I hadn't seen one in person yet) and not only that, they're paper thin as well!

relayer · June 21, 2005 1:25PM

IF you can see them

mozin · June 21, 2005 2:06PM

I think the silver three cents are great even in AU. They often tone super. Problem is they are so thin they bend easily and are therefore hard to get into PCGS/NGC holders.

Trime · June 21, 2005 7:36PM

Love those trimes.
Numismatics can be a lonely hobby.
Collecting 3CS is the loneliest.

BillJones · June 21, 2005 11:20PM

I’m curious about these “great toning” comments. I’ll grant you that I have seen many nicely toned Type III Silver Three Cent Pieces, but I find only a few Type II coins was nice toning and virtually no Type I pieces.

The Type I Silver Three Cent Pieces were only 75% silver and 25% copper. The standard for U.S. silver coins is 90-10. For that reason many of the Type I coins I see have very ugly blotchy toning or they have been dipped. Maybe you guys have seen something else, but that’s been my observation.

ziggy29 · June 21, 2005 11:27PM

<< For that reason many of the Type I coins I see have very ugly blotchy toning or they have been dipped. Maybe you guys have seen something else, but that’s been my observation. >>

Prethen · June 21, 2005 11:55PM

I'm one of those poor dorks who love trimes. I recently completed a circulated collection of 1851-1862 (including 62/1) and I have 7 of the proofs. They're just about the puniest U.S. coins but really cool. Glad to see there's someone else out there to compete for the material...well, only sorta glad.

tmot99 · June 21, 2005 11:56PM

I love the little guys. It may be my next series. I'm working on half dimes now so I am used to small coins. I was looking into them at one point, but felt prices were a bit beyond my budget at that time, so I never went anywhere with it.

PerryHall · June 22, 2005 12:12AM

The only US coin smaller than the trime is the Type I gold dollar (13mm vs. 14mm). The trime is the lightest US coin ever produced. Their nickname back when they circulated was "fish scales".

vega1 · June 22, 2005 12:13AM

I collect them as far as my type set requirements (all 3 types will be needed). I only have the 1853 right now but its a beautiful NGC-63 example and I love it. So I'm still looking for nice examples of the type 2 and type 3. I really like both the 3 cent silvers and the 3 cent nickels.

OffMetal · June 22, 2005 12:13AM

I had a 3-cent piece once... Until I dropped it in my safe and it came out of it's tiny 1.5x1.5 holder

I still haven't found it to this day

Ben

ecos · June 22, 2005 12:38AM

Trimes are great coins! One day I will collect them.
The first one I ever owned, I found. I was walking across a plowed field in SE Pennsylvania and something caught my eye in a clump of dirt. It must have been the perfect circle outline against all the random dirt. I took a step back and, sure enough, picked up a dirt covered 3 cent'er. It was a common date, but hey, can't beat the price!!!

BillJones · June 22, 2005 1:05AM

<< 

<< For that reason many of the Type I coins I see have very ugly blotchy toning or they have been dipped. Maybe you guys have seen something else, but that’s been my observation. >>

>>

Aside from the "Eliasberg" citation, which adds value to piece, this looks like a crack-out condidate to me when it comes to the assigned grade.

ziggy29 · June 22, 2005 1:08AM

<< Aside from the "Eliasberg" citation, which adds value to piece, this looks like a crack-out condidate to me when it comes to the assigned grade. >>

No doubt about it; this is very much a coin that the crackout artists would love to get their hands on. But as long as it's mine, it will remain in its original 58 holder.

dthigpen · June 22, 2005 1:08AM

They also hold a neat place in holey history. During the period they were produced, due to their size, many people holed them to place them onto charm bracelets. I have about 200 of the suckers with contemporary holes in them, as well as many that are still on the bracelets. Their biggest downside is how easily they bent and became disfigured in general.

BillJones · June 22, 2005 2:36AM

When the law was passed that authorized the Silver Three Cent Pieces, they were said to have two purposes. First, the postal rate for a letter had just been lowered to three cents. Since large cents did not circulate that well, these pieces provided a convenient way to buy stamps.

Second, these pieces were to be used to redeem Spanish milled coins when they were brought to the mint for re-coinage into U.S. coins. The Spanish coins were still legal tender in the U.S. and would continue to have that status until 1857. Some people had learned that they could bring badly worn Spanish milled coins in for the exchange and get back more silver than they brought in. To discourage that the trime was purposely made to have less than three cents worth of silver in it. It was the first U.S. coinage that was issued that way with no apologies.

In a way I think that this was one way to discourage people from bringing in a lot of Spanish coinage to the mint. In exchange for three nice big silver dollars, you got 100 trimes, which some people called “fish scales.” The derogatory term stemmed from the fact that the coins were so thin that it was almost impossible to lift them from a flat surface.

Here is a picture of my favorite trime, the 1851-O. This was to lowest denomination to be produced at a U.S. branch mint until the Indian cents were made at San Francisco in 1908.

mgoodm3 · June 22, 2005 2:41AM

Just watch out with them raw, commonly bent.

ScarsdaleCoin · June 22, 2005 5:00AM

Who says no one collects them???

I have lots of clients buying them....

come look at our website....

PQpeace · June 22, 2005 5:12AM

Hi Jon,
I knew you would Trime in

Larry

rhedden · June 22, 2005 5:31AM

I have one word for 3-cent silvers: undervalued. Go back to an old Redbook from the early 1960's and look at the prices compared to 2-cent pieces, 3-cent nickels, and half dimes. You will see that the 3-cent silvers were cosidered better coins. 3 cent silvers in decent circulated grade are overdue for an appreciation. I have 1851-O, 1855, and 1864 in my collection now; need to buy up the rest before everyone on this board jumps on the bandwagon and drives the prices up! In addition to being undervalued, they are scarce type coins that make a strong impression on non-collectors. An matched, originally toned Unc. set in PCGS slabs or a Capitol plastic holder would be an impressive accomplishment and a rare find indeed.

Baley · June 22, 2005 9:42AM

these are neat little coins

I have 4, 1852, 1855, 1861 and this one:

PQpeace · June 22, 2005 1:26PM

Thanks Guys for all your fine responses...

Larry

Prethen · June 22, 2005 1:35PM

I love this trime (my only Unc.), courtesy of Darin (including the pix which are his too):

1946Hamm · June 22, 2005 1:46PM

I completed a year set 51-62/1 in Ef and up and proofs 63 thru 73. Makes for a nice set. The Proofs are all ANACS.

Curley · June 22, 2005 2:10PM

<< Love those trimes.
Numismatics can be a lonely hobby.
Collecting 3CS is the loneliest. >>

Try collecting two cent pieces!!

michael · June 22, 2005 3:02PM

BillJones
Master Collector

Posts: 6163
Joined: Dec 2001
Wednesday June 22, 2005 9:20 AM

I’m curious about these “great toning” comments. I’ll grant you that I have seen many nicely toned Type III Silver Three Cent Pieces, but I find only a few Type II coins was nice toning and virtually no Type I pieces.

The Type I Silver Three Cent Pieces were only 75% silver and 25% copper. The standard for U.S. silver coins is 90-10. For that reason many of the Type I coins I see have very ugly blotchy toning or they have been dipped. Maybe you guys have seen something else, but that’s been my observation.

michael · June 22, 2005 3:18PM

true gem unc type two trimes that are fantastically wildly toned are truly extremely beautiful small works of art and

actually in ngc and moreso pcgs holders the holder shows off and holds the coin and again a killer toned superb eye appeal gem unc type two trime is a rare joy to behold and actually in the pcgs holder sparkles and appears larger than life due to its gem quality lustre and colors

and is a fantastically rare bird to boot so small yet amazing and rare and totally undervalued sleeper opportunity coinage with a great history

now the type one and type three and the proofs are also cool too with great toning in choice and gem ms and proof

they are great sleeper coins too opportunity coinage+++

but a true gem ms wildly colored trime type two is a rare joy to behold and actually makes grown men weep

and the ngc and pcgs holders make these coins easier to hold and view and again with great color lustre and high technical grade are joys to behold and light up many times their so called small size

so many trimes are damaged and bent and even when they get aq nick it shows up on the other side of the coin they are so thin that again any special looking trime will stand out many times its small size and will be able to be seen quite well even by a blind man

if you cant see the trimes or have a hard time with them then you are not looking at the special trimes as per the above information

get with the program!!! and get yourself a choice to gem ms and/or proof trime type one 2 or 3 with great color and then you will enjoy this coin ngc and pcgs holder all the better with pcgs being the best for viewing and holding such small masterpieces works of art

type two gem ms and pcgs holdered and wildly colored the ultimate of the ultimate

this little coin in this attatchment might be small in person but because of its color and lustre and technical superb qualities makes this coin look much larger than life when viewing it in hand sight seen

and any statement about a coin like this being small and hard to see and not a good coin to collect is greatly missing something in coins and hurting their numismatic advancement and in their limited coin experience has not had the pleasure to see and study and apprecaite the really beautiful trimes

get with the program!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LincolnCentMan · June 22, 2005 3:43PM

how come there are only a few registry sets ??

....I suspect it's because they're so darn small. I have good eye sight and cant fully enjoy looking at those coins without a glass.

David

PQpeace · June 22, 2005 3:54PM

Lot 1328 ANR auction tomorrow..

http://www.anrcoins.com/lotdetail.aspx?lrid=AN00024414

Beautiful coin..

maybe someone can post a pic of this coin ??

Larry 1871 pr67 3cs

Nic · June 22, 2005 8:29PM

Agree with Bill. Check out this coin and my icon for exceptions. K

Trime · June 22, 2005 10:06PM

Nic,
Very Nice!

Nic · June 25, 2005 12:37PM

Here you go. K

PQpeace · September 9, 2005 1:27AM

I just added my 3rd coin...
I may be hooked

Larry

291fifth · September 9, 2005 1:44AM

They are too small. Most collectors are older and no longer have good enough eyesight for coins of that size.

Danegeld · September 9, 2005 2:03AM

I have a couple for type only. I think they're cool they were used as "Stamp Money" change If I recall correctly.

Take Care
Ben

PQpeace · October 14, 2005 2:15PM

I just added another nice coin..
1864 with color !

Still only 10 guys putting together sets ...

michael · October 14, 2005 3:33PM

Cladiator · October 14, 2005 4:40PM

Julien · October 14, 2005 10:28PM

I only have 1.

ScarsdaleCoin · October 15, 2005 12:26AM

Larry....you see 10 sets on pcgs....but rest assured there are lots of people who have much nicer sets than are listed ( I know because I know what I have sold them and they dont care at all about registry sets) and even more plenty of people are collecting 3 centers....I must have 25 customers who are buying 3c Silvers from me who dont even own a computer....

cohodk · October 15, 2005 1:52AM

I have only one. It is a top-pop proof and arguably the most beautiful coin in my collection.

TUMUSS · October 15, 2005 1:56AM

michael · October 15, 2005 5:18AM

cladiator

also your icon is the best top three i have ever saw on here

mgoodm3 · October 15, 2005 5:29AM

Here's my only nice one. Raw (bent slightly).

SDCollector · October 15, 2005 5:36AM

I went over my budget to buy this one. As usual for Heritage pics, it looks much nicer in person.

Higashiyama · October 15, 2005 10:51AM

Mgoodm3 -- those are amazing clash marks across the III! Great coin!

PQpeace · January 12, 2007 2:31AM

relicsncoins · January 12, 2007 2:38AM

<< They also hold a neat place in holey history. During the period they were produced, due to their size, many people holed them to place them onto charm bracelets. I have about 200 of the suckers with contemporary holes in them, as well as many that are still on the bracelets. Their biggest downside is how easily they bent and became disfigured in general. >>

I was under the impression that most small holed coins, such as gold dollars, half dimes, trimes and half reales were holed for purposes of not losing them and were tied onto a leather thong for safe keeping until spent.

JJ

DorkGirl · January 12, 2007 2:41AM

<< 

<< They also hold a neat place in holey history. During the period they were produced, due to their size, many people holed them to place them onto charm bracelets. I have about 200 of the suckers with contemporary holes in them, as well as many that are still on the bracelets. Their biggest downside is how easily they bent and became disfigured in general. >>

I was under the impression that most small holed coins, such as gold dollars, half dimes, trimes and half reales were holed for purposes of not losing them and were tied onto a leather thong for safe keeping until spent.

JJ >>

I don't know which is correct, I only know that finding one is very fun.

3 CENT SILVERS ARE NEAT COINS !

Comments

Leave a Comment