1861 3CS MS63 Certification #33832944, PCGS #3679

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

1861 3CS – Civil War Collection – In 1861, there were 497,000 “Three Cent Silver” piece minted in Philadelphia. No other US Mint produced 3CS pieces that year. The survival rate has been estimated at 7,500 pieces with 1,000 being uncirculated and approximately 400 graded MS65 or higher. With amble minting, the collector can find reasonably priced coins available in the market although, as expected, the price increases on condition as well as eye appearance as many of the coins are not particularly attractive. The 1861 3CS coin shown here has remarkable eye appeal and would request a premium over a traditional MS63 coin.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1861 Three Cent Silver has the highest mintage of any date in the 1860s, but this is a relative term, since the 1852 (the most common date in the series) has a mintage that is 375 times that of the 1861. This disparate relationship does not translate to the PCGS Population Report, where the census of the 1852 is only twice that of the 1861, but this is due to the fact that most circulated examples never make it to the grading services.

The PCGS Condition Census contains a full complement of MS67 examples, meaning that collectors can find some wonderful examples on the market. The 1861 usually comes well struck, seldom with clashmarks, and often with rich, frosty luster. For type purposes, this is a great date, and one that offers excellent value.

PCGS #

3679

Designer

James Barton Longacre

Edge

Plain

Diameter

14.30 millimeters

Weight

0.75 grams

Mintage

497000

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

504

Pop Lower

792

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	7500	R-3.5	15 / 16	21 / 25
All Grades	1000	R-5.0	14 / 16 TIE	20 / 25 TIE
60 or Better	400	R-6.2	15 / 16	22 / 25

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	7500
All Grades	1000
60 or Better	400

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-3.5
All Grades	R-5.0
60 or Better	R-6.2

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	15 / 16
All Grades	14 / 16 TIE
60 or Better	15 / 16

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	21 / 25
All Grades	20 / 25 TIE
60 or Better	22 / 25

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Thumbnail	Pedigree and History
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade
1	MS67 PCGS grade

#1 MS67 PCGS grade