W.I. Silver 3 cents
1871

Owner Comments:

This coin was once part of the famous Eliasberg Collection. The low mintage of only 3400 pieces makes this date scarce in all grades. However, the number of survivors of this date (about 8%) is considerably higher that one would expect. Approximately one third of all survivors grade MS-66 or higher. This would indicate that this date did not circulate to any great degree and that many collectors and dealers probably put the coin away as soon as it was issued. On July 10, 1873 the mint held 74,000 Silver three cent pieces in it's inventory. Nearly all of the production runs from 1863 - 1872 were included in this number. These coins were all melted when Congress abolished this denomination which explains why the later dates of this series are so elusive.