The Type 1 Proof Three Cent Silver was the first year and design for its series and denomination. Produced in order to have coinage between 1C and 5C, making it easier to exchange foreign coins (legal tender at the time) into U.S. currency. This type lasted from 1851 to 1852 and were produced with only 75% silver. Both dates are extreme rarities.
| coinage-type | Three cent silver |
| desg | PR |
| designer | James B. Longacre |
| diameter | 14 |
| edge | Plain |
| fineness | 0.9 |
| material | 0.9 silver; 0.1 copper |
| obverse-description | A six-pointed star with a harp in the center is surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the periphery and the date positioned at the bottom. For the type I issues (1851-53) there is no frame line around the star. |
| pcgs-link | 3695 |
| pcgs-number | 3695 |
| reverse-description | The roman numeral III is centered in the design ensconced in a large, bejeweled letter C surrounded by 13 stars on the periphery. |
| variety | Type 1 |
| variety-2 | 1851-1853 |
| weight-grams | 0.75 |
| weight-ounces | 0.02646 |
| year-display | 1859-1873 |