1868 Silver Three-Cent Piece

The 1868 Silver Three-Cent Piece is one of those coins that flies under the radar simply because so many people have never heard of it. Increasingly, however, these coins are becoming popular for collectors from all over the world. Having only been produced for a short period of time, and featuring a design that is wholly unique, it is no surprise that collectors love these coins. With that being said, there has never been a better time to get your hands on one.

On the obverse side of the 1868 Silver Three-Cent Piece, you will find the image of the United States Shield, or crest, inscribed in the very center. Around the crest is a large 6-pointed star. On the very outer edges of the Silver Three-Cent Piece you will find a raised inscription which reads “United States of America.” Finally, the 1868 year of minting is inscribed on the bottom of the coin.

On the reverse side, the coin’s design is unlike anything we have ever seen. The dominant feature is that of a large, ornate, capital letter “C,” complete with interesting decoration. Within the center of the “C” exists an inscription marking the 3-cent face value. What is interesting about the face value is that it is in Roman Numerals. On the very outer edges of this coin, you will find 13 stars, each one representing 1 of the 13 original colonies of the United States.

Grading the 1868 Silver Three-Cent Piece

For collectors, the unfortunate reality of the modern day is that there are plenty of counterfeit coins out there. Being that the 1868 Silver Three-Cent Piece is highly sought after, it too is counterfeited frequently. As a means of protecting themselves against counterfeit coins, collectors only settle for the coins that have been graded and certified as authentic. Below, we have outlined the different coin grades as well as what they mean.

Uncirculated: A coin that has been graded as being Uncirculated is one that never made it out onto the open market. Having never exchanged hands, these pieces will appear to be in absolutely perfect condition, much like they were when they were first minted.

Extremely Fine: An Extremely Fine 1868 Silver Three-Cent Piece is going to feature a few minor flaws, but will for the most part be in excellent condition. In fact, in many scenarios the flaws are almost impossible to make out with the naked eye.

Fine: Fine is the grade given to coins that have been both circulated and damaged to some extent. These pieces will features wear and tear including scratching and chipping, however they should still be in decent shape.

Good: Good is the lowest grade a coin can receive, and is usually used to describe pieces that have been both heavily circulated and heavily damaged. Despite their visible signs of wear and tear, these coins are still sought after by collectors.

Pricing the 1868 Silver Three-Cent Piece

In terms of the price you might be asked to pay for the 1868 Silver Three-Cent Piece, this is something that can chiefly be determined by looking at the condition the coin is in. In almost every case, a coin that has been well-preserved will fetch a much higher asking price than a coin that has been heavily damaged. On top of this, the ever-decreasing quantity of Silver Three-Cent Pieces is something that has and will continue to drive the price higher. Below, we have listed a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for a graded 1868 Silver Three-Cent Piece.

Three Cent Silver

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1868 Three Cent Silver	N/A	N/A	$475	$550
Source: Red Book