1855

The 1855 three-cent silver is the key date of the Type II subtype and one of the scarcest regular-issue trimes overall. The Mint struck only 139,000 coins, the lowest circulation figure in the entire series. The sharp decline from previous years reflects the ongoing silver-melting pressure that the 1854 composition change had brought to the denomination. Silver coins were being melted for bullion whenever their silver value exceeded face value, and the three-cent silver was no exception.

The low mintage combined with normal circulation attrition has left the 1855 genuinely rare. Most surviving examples are in lower circulated grades. Good to Very Good is the typical condition. Fine is harder to find. Very Fine and above are scarce enough that each appearance at auction draws specialist attention. Uncirculated examples with original surfaces are major acquisitions.

The Type II design had chronic striking problems. The three-outline star created opposing high relief between obverse and reverse, and the presses struggled to fully impress both sides simultaneously. Surviving Type II trimes frequently show parallel field striations from die polishing and clash marks from dies striking together without a planchet between them. On the 1855 specifically, clash marks are the norm rather than the exception. A fully struck 1855 without clash evidence is scarcer than the already-scarce survivors suggest.

For someone building a complete Type II subset (only five dates from 1854 through 1858), the 1855 is the primary obstacle. The finest known is a single MS66+. Most Mint State examples top out at MS65. A PCGS MS67 example sold for $48,000 at Heritage in February 2021.