The Three Cent Silver Pieces were produced from 1851 to 1873. The coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint for each year of issue, with production also taking place at the New Orleans Mint in 1851.
The mintage levels were generally higher for the initial years of the series, reaching a peak of 18,663,500 pieces struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1852. During the final decade of the series, production levels dwindled into the low thousands. The lowest circulation strike mintage was a mere 1,000 pieces struck in 1872.
The Silver Three Cent Pieces were struck in proof format for collectors for each year from 1858 to 1873. Mintage levels for these pieces varied from a low of approximately 210 pieces in 1858 to 1,000 pieces reached during three separate years. In 1873, the Mint did not produce coins for circulation, but struck only 600 coins in proof format.
| Date | Mintage |
|---|---|
| 1851 | 5,447,400 |
| 1851-O | 720,000 |
| 1852 | 18,663,500 |
| 1853 | 11,400,000 |
| 1854 | 671,000 |
| 1855 | 139,000 |
| 1856 | 1,458,000 |
| 1857 | 1,042,000 |
| 1858 | 1,603,700 |
| 1859 | 364,200 |
| 1860 | 286,000 |
| 1861 | 497,000 |
| 1862 | 343,000 |
| 1863 | 21,000 |
| 1864 | 12,000 |
| 1865 | 8,000 |
| 1866 | 22,000 |
| 1867 | 4,000 |
| 1868 | 3,500 |
| 1869 | 4,500 |
| 1870 | 3,000 |
| 1871 | 3,400 |
| 1872 | 1,000 |
| 1873 | Proof Only |
