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Silver Three Cents Trimes Three Cent Silvers
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Silver Three Cents
1851 to 1862
Silver Three Cents
1851 to 1862
With Proofs
Silver Three Cents
1851 to 1872
Silver Three Cents
1851 to 1873
With Proofs
Silver Three Cents
Trimes
1851 to 1862
Trimes
1851 to 1862
With Proofs
Trimes
1851 to 1872
Trimes
1851 to 1873
With Proofs
Trimes
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A most curious coin that served an unlikely period in American history, the silver three cent piece occupies a strange place in the annals of numismatics. Its short lifespan in the catalog of regular Mint issues speaks volumes to the coin’s initial usefulness, slow decline, and discontinuation.
The California Gold Rush of 1849 had a major impact on the markets of the East beyond flooding commerce channels with new gold. The long-standing silver-to-gold ratio of 16 to 1 was upset by the high gold coin populations. Silver coins then began to trade at premiums, ever increasing, until they were worth more in their silver weight than their face value and all but vanished from circulation. For the most part, all that remained in pocket change were copper cents and gold coins with large gaps in value in between. There was significant demand for a serious adjustment.