The three-cent silver piece—often called the trime—was a very small coin built around practical small-payment needs and divided into three types by the outlines around its obverse star.
This guide covers 1851–1873 silver three-cent issues from Philadelphia and the single New Orleans date, including all three catalog design types and the 1852 overdate variety.
Core specifications
- Issue period
- 1851–1873
- Catalog mints
- 2
- Reported catalog mintage
- 42,728,340
- Composition
- Varies by type
- Diameter
- 14 mm
- Weight
- Varies by type
A small silver solution that became difficult to use
The denomination arrived when postal and everyday payments called for convenient small change. Its unusual value and compact size made it distinct from every other federal silver coin.
Design strengthening created three catalog types, yet the tiny format remained easy to lose and difficult to handle. Production contracted sharply before the denomination ended in 1873.
Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type
Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.
The main portrait and date
A national shield rests on a six-pointed star with the date below; one, two, or three outlines around the star distinguish the major types.
Denomination, subject, and mint mark
An ornamental C surrounds the Roman numeral III, with stars or an olive sprig and arrows added according to type.
Where the cataloged coins were made
Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.
- P — Philadelphia: 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873; 42,008,340. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.
- O — New Orleans: 1851; 720,000. Confirm the O mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
Representative issues that explain the series
A three-type set explains the series efficiently; date collectors then add the 1851-O branch-mint issue and low-production Civil War-era dates.
- 1851 O — 720,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1854 P — 671,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1863 P — 21,460. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1872 P — 1,950. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1873 P - Closed 3 -Proof Only — 600. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
Start with the major type, then study smaller die differences
The current catalog records 1 varieties. A variety name describes repeatable die features; it does not automatically mean error, rarity, or added value.
The issue catalog keeps all 1 modeled varieties attached to their parent issue records.
Issue catalog
From one type coin to a complete catalog
- One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
- Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
- Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
- Variety study: Choose one date or diagnostic family and record several matching markers for every attribution.
A note on catalog records
This page uses 24 issue records, 1 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.
Sources
- Circulating Coins and Past Denominations — United States Mint
- History of U.S. Circulating Coins — United States Mint
- Three Cent Silver category reference — PCGS CoinFacts