Bill Jones' Two and Three Cent Pieces
3C SILVER, TYPE 2 (1854-1858)
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
THREE-CENT PIECES - SILVER |
| Item Description: |
3CS 1858 |
| Full Grade: |
PCGS MS 63 |
| Owner: |
BillJones |
Owner Comments:
The Type II Silver Three Cent Piece featured a more complicated design. There were three lines around the star on the obverse, and there was an olive branch above the “III” on the reverse and bundle of arrows below it.
These changes were made for two reasons. First, it indicated a change in composition from 75% silver and 25% copper to 90% silver and 10% copper. Second, it was hoped that the added detail would make harder for counterfeiters to duplicate the piece. Your author has noted many counterfeits of the Type I Silver Three Cent Piece, but he has nonetheless seen a fair number of contemporary bogus Type II coins as well. The vast majority of these old time counterfeits were poorly executed and would fool only novice collectors today.
The added detail resulted in poor strikes for many Type II Silver Three Cent Pieces. Many coins show weaknesses especially in the middle, contours and outlines of the large star on the obverse. This resulted in a rapid modification to the piece.
The present coin has been dipped, but it is very sharp and lustrous. It is very attractive for an MS-63 graded example.