NNP

1870 3C Three Cent Silver, Judd-796, Pollock-883, High R.7, PR67 NGC. CAC. Design. The obverse is the Seated Liberty design of William Barber. Liberty faces left, with her right hand supporting a shield and simultaneously holding a ribbon reading LIBERTY. She bears an olive branch in her left hand, and a Liberty cap protrudes from behind. UNITED STATES is to the left, and OF AMERICA to the right. The date 1870 is in exergue. On the reverse, somewhat mismatched in size, is the regular-issue reverse for the three cent silver. Struck in silver with a plain edge. Commentary. The same obverse design was also used for the Standard Silver five cent patterns of the year (Judd-809 through 814). These pieces were struck in silver, copper and aluminum, with both plain and reeded edges. Complete sets were sold of this design in all three metals. Some silver sets contained the three cent silver, including sets owned by Lorin Parmelee and Louis Eliasberg. Fewer than a dozen three cent pieces are known, many of which appear to have been struck on half dime planchets rather than three cent flans. Physical Description. Each side is cobalt-blue with occasional streaks and dabs of rose interspersed. The fields are bright and flash strongly through the significant toning that covers each side. Only three pieces have been certified by both services combined. This is the finest: the other two are an NGC PR66 and a PCGS PR62 (3/13). Provenance. "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $20; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3977, realized $10575.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.