1851 Silver Three-Cent Piece, Variety 1

Here's the important first-year-of-issue silver 3¢ piece, minted to alleviate a nation-wide coin shortage after gold was discovered in California. Struck from 75% silver and 25% copper so it would stay in circulation, the three-cent piece is the America's smallest silver coin. The obverse displays a 6-pointed star with a shield at the center, and the reverse, the Roman numeral III within a C-shaped design. This design is known as Variety 1, issued from 1851-1853. All silver three-cent pieces are scarce, so order your first-year coin today.