1852 Three Cent Silver!

[DrDetector]

Ok so here is the entire unabridged story on this find. I ended up working overtime today at a location I don't usually work at, and they happen to have a coin counter there. In the past when I have been called in to work at this location, I have had decent finds when cleaning out the coin counter. Today was no exception! This particular coin counter has a tendency to reject coins that are too small into the 'inner' reject cup/bin. I opened the machine up and looked at the cup. It was filled with dirt, hair, lint, buttons, etc. and was quite full. I pulled it out and started looking through it. I saw some small foreign coins in the mix as well as paper clips, buttons and other small metal items. I made sure to separate the trash from the 'treasure' and then noticed a very small, thin coin and knew immediately what it was, although this is the first one I have actually owned. It was a silver 3 cent piece! I didn't want to scratch it or anything so carefully took it along with a dozen other coins and stowed them in my pocket, with the 3 center in a separate pocket. I finished cleaning the coin counter so that it would run smoothly for all the users, then went to a sink and, with soapy water, cleaned off my find. The date is easily readable and is an 1852. Pretty awesome find for me, considering this is the oldest coin I've found from 'circulation' even though it was technically rejected from circulation. Someone must have dumped it in the machine, there's no doubt about that, but as to how it got mixed in with other coins is beyond me. Here are some pics, as well as some of the other coins that were there. Anybody recognize that 'OPA RED POINT' wooden token? Also the other coins in there were some bent dimes and pennies, as well as 2002 and 2004 Ireland 1 Euro cent, 1988-F Germany 1 Pfennig, 1992 and 1999 Cayman Islands 1 cent, 2005 Aruba 5 cents, and a Toronto Transit Commission 'Valid for One Fare' token.

 

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[Mac232]

I think the OPA Red point is a WW II ration token , I have one too but wouldn,t swear to it .

 

[DrDetector]

Sure enough, you are correct! WWII ration token it is.

http://www.fantasticprices.com/token/opa.html

Mine is a common VY letter combination

 

[Silver_Fox]

I think the OPA Red point is a WW II ration token , I have one too but wouldn,t swear to it .

That's what it is. They also have blue ones. I have some and a holder that was made for them.

 

[Scott (Mich)]

That three cent piece is a really cool find. I have found a couple from md-ing but never would have thought one would have been in circulation in the last 100 years. congrats

Happy Hunting,

Scott (MI)

 

[Cat J]

Way to go that was a really good find.

Congrats
Cat

 

[Immy]

Congrats Doc, on only the 2nd 3-center ever found on this board, and the 1st silver one. Last year someone found a nickel 3-center but I think yours is older. My May 2008 price guide says $50 in VG condition, nice going!

 

[DrDetector]

I remember seeing the nickel 3 cent piece last year but I don't remember who found it or how. I checked on Ebay and some completed listings indicate I could probably expect around $20 to $25 or so for this coin in the grade it is (probably G). Not sure if mine would grade as high as VG or not.

 

[hollowpointred]

someone must have scooped a bunch of change off of the same table that they had a part of a collection on.i wonder what coins made it into the machine? barbers, mercs...........one can only guess! 8)

 

[GMan00001]

I remember seeing the nickel 3 cent piece last year but I don't remember who found it or how. I checked on Ebay and some completed listings indicate I could probably expect around $20 to $25 or so for this coin in the grade it is (probably G). Not sure if mine would grade as high as VG or not.

If I remember correctly the nickel 3 cent last year was mixed in a roll of dimes, but don't quote me on that.

 

[TxTim]

Awesome!!!!
Congrats!!!

 

[DesertTumbleweed402]

That is awesome!!! Great find!!!