1852 Three-Cent Silver Coin — Type 1 Trime

1852 Three-Cent Silver Coin — Type 1 Trime

Own a fascinating piece of early American numismatic history with this 1852 Three-Cent Silver Coin, commonly known among collectors as a Trime. This unusual denomination represents one of the smallest and most distinctive silver coins ever issued by the United States Mint.

The Three-Cent Silver series was produced from 1851 through 1873 and was introduced during a period of significant changes in American commerce. The denomination was created partly to facilitate the purchase of three-cent postage stamps, following the reduction of the standard domestic letter postage rate in 1851.

Designed by James B. Longacre, Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, the Three-Cent Silver coin features a distinctive design that differs considerably from other circulating American silver coins of the period.

The 1852 Three-Cent Silver belongs to the original Type 1 design, produced from 1851 through 1853. These early issues were struck in an unusual composition of 75% silver and 25% copper, rather than the 90% silver alloy used for most other United States silver denominations.

The obverse features a six-pointed star with a small United States shield at its center. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the star, with the date 1852 positioned below.

The reverse displays the Roman numeral III, representing the coin's three-cent denomination, surrounded by an ornamental C-shaped design and thirteen stars.

The coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which produced the 1852 Three-Cent Silver without a mint mark.

With an original mintage of 18,663,500 business strikes, the 1852 Three-Cent Silver is one of the most accessible dates within the series and remains a popular choice for collectors seeking an example of this unusual denomination.

The year 1852 falls during an important period of American expansion, as the California Gold Rush continued to influence the nation's economy and the availability of precious metals.

Measuring approximately 14 millimeters in diameter and weighing just 0.80 grams, the Three-Cent Silver is among the smallest coins ever produced for general circulation by the United States Mint.

Whether collected as part of a Three-Cent Silver date set, an early American denomination collection, or a broader United States type set, the 1852 Type 1 Trime offers a distinctive combination of history, rarity of denomination, and classic numismatic appeal.

Product Details

• Denomination: Three Cents ($0.03 USD)

• Year: 1852

• Mint: Philadelphia (No Mint Mark)

• Series: Three-Cent Silver (1851–1873)

• Type: Type 1 (1851–1853)

• Original Mintage: 18,663,500 business strikes

• Composition: 75% Silver, 25% Copper

• Weight: 0.80 grams

• Diameter: 14 mm

• Actual Silver Weight (ASW): Approximately 0.0193 Troy Ounces

• Designer: James B. Longacre

• Obverse: Six-pointed star with central United States shield

• Reverse: Roman numeral III within an ornamental C-shaped design and thirteen stars

• Mint Mark Location: None — Philadelphia issue

• Edge: Plain

• Condition: See product photographs for the exact coin offered

• Quantity: One individual coin

Please Note: This listing is for one specific 1852 Three-Cent Silver Coin. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.