1852 Silver Three Cent U.S. Coin

1852 Silver Three Cent U.S. Coin in Very Good Condition, see photos. The 1852 Silver Three-Cent piece is 90% silver affectionately known to numismatists as a "trime," holds a distinct place in U.S. history as part of the country's smallest and lightest silver coin series. Designed by Chief Engraver James B. Longacre, the Type 1 variety features a simple six-pointed star bearing the national shield on the obverse, and an ornate, stylized Roman numeral "III" nested inside a large letter "C" on the reverse. Introduced primarily to facilitate the purchase of three-cent postage stamps following the California Gold Rush—which had caused the hoarding of heavier silver coins—the 1852 issue boasts the highest mintage of the entire series, with an enormous output of 18,663,500 pieces from the Philadelphia Mint. due to its incredibly thin composition (just 0.51 millimeters) and diminutive size, well-preserved examples with strong strikes on the central shield lines and the reverse Roman numerals are highly prized by collectors.