United Kingdom • 3 pence

British Sterling Silver Threepence — 1817–1920 Types

A matching sterling threepence contains 0.042 reference fine silver troy ounce using the reference’s designated standard. The included types have 100 specific issue years, not continuous production throughout the broad envelope. The genuine 1858 photographs illustrate KM730 young-head Victoria only. Match denomination, date, portrait and composition before counting a coin.

1858 British sterling threepence obverse — Victoria’s young head faces left, with her hair tied behind the head and a surrounding royal legend.
Obverse — Genuine 1858 KM730 young-head Victoria reference; illustrates this design only, without authentication or finish inference.
Heritage Auctions / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0; Complete licensed face converted to WebP without upscaling or invented artwork; adaptation retains CC BY-SA 3.0 · Image source · CC BY-SA 3.0
1858 British sterling threepence reverse — A crown stands above the numeral 3, flanked by the split date 18 and 58, inside a tied wreath.
Reverse — Genuine 1858 KM730 young-head Victoria reference; illustrates this design only, without authentication or finish inference.
Heritage Auctions / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0; Complete licensed face converted to WebP without upscaling or invented artwork; adaptation retains CC BY-SA 3.0 · Image source · CC BY-SA 3.0

When a fresh spot bid is available, melt values use fine-metal content × spot bid. CashForCoins guide buying offers use the separately configured percentage for each metal. Selected rare/numismatic coins require an appraisal. Dollar amounts remain unavailable when a fresh quote or buying percentage is missing.

Verified coin specifications

Country
United Kingdom
Face denomination
3 pence
Composition
92.5% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified
Gross weight (grams)
1.4138
Fineness
0.925
Fine-metal weight (troy oz)
0.042
Edge
Varies by dated type and finish
Mint
Not independently verified for each dated type
Restrikes
Patterns, other alloys and unresolved replicas excluded
Issue years
1817–1818, 1820, 1822–1901, 1904–1920

One hundred actual annual dates across nine matching 1.4138-g sterling types. 1819, 1821 and lighter-only 1902–1903 are excluded; matching 1904 and explicit sterling1920 rows are included. The lighter KM797.1 standard and same-year .500 coins remain separate. Proof/prooflike labels and open/closed1893 numeral styles do not add years.

Source precision
The reference’s designated table and the nine included dated types give 1.4138 g, .925 fineness and .042 reference fine silver ounce. The lighter Edward VII KM797.1 type gives 1.3000 g/.9250/.0387 ounce and is excluded. Its 1902–1903 dates do not belong in this heavier guide; 1904 also has the separate matching KM797.2 type. Later included tables specify 16 mm; earlier ones omit diameter, so no universal numeric diameter is inferred.

Calculate this coin’s metal content

One coin contains 0.042 troy oz of fine silver.

Formula: specified fine-metal troy ounces × quantity. Dollar melt value additionally requires an approved current metal price.

Obverse: identify the front

The genuine 1858 obverse shows Victoria’s young head facing left, with her hair tied behind the head and a surrounding royal legend. It represents KM730 young-head Victoria, rather than every portrait in the guide. Earlier or later rulers and Victorian portrait revisions need their own dated reference. Similar royal portraits appear on other denominations; identify both faces and preserve the full legend.

Reverse: identify the back

On the reference reverse, a crown stands above the numeral 3, flanked by the split date 18 and 58, inside a tied wreath. Read the complete denomination and date together. Other included types can change the arms, wreath, lettering, date arrangement or surrounding ornament. A matching photograph helps compare design but cannot establish a specimen’s measured mass, alloy, grade or authenticity.

History and purpose

This scope runs from George III through George IV, William IV, Victoria, Edward VII and George V. The inspected George III rows omit 1819 and 1821. Early prooflike listings, Victoria’s young, Jubilee and mature portraits, and the two Edward VII mass standards make a date-only match insufficient. George V’s sterling table includes a specific 1920 row, overlapping the start of .500 threepence. Keep the composition attribution with that year.

How to identify this variant

Read both complete faces, the issue date, portrait and edge. Compare the relevant dated type rather than applying the photographed 1858 design to every year. Retain overdates, numeral styles and initials where visible. Source-supported dimensions are type-specific; this combined guide leaves numeric diameter empty. A coin’s apparent size in an unscaled photograph does not establish its mass or metal content.

Understanding its metal content

One matching coin contributes 0.042 reference fine silver troy ounce. Three contribute 0.126 fine silver ounces and 4.2414 nominal gross grams. Nominal fine-metal mass is gross mass multiplied by .925; the designated reference table supplies the rounded fine-ounce input. Separate .500 coins, lighter standards and uncertain pieces before entering quantities. Wear and actual condition can differ from nominal specifications.

Dates, varieties and composition changes

Specific source-supported issue years: 1817–1818, 1820, 1822–1901, 1904–1920. The earliest included type lists 1817, 1818 and 1820. George IV’s small-head 1822 entry is prooflike; the larger-head type covers 1823–1830. William IV has specific 1831–1837 rows. Young-head Victoria includes a recorded 1868 legend error, proof and prooflike entries. Jubilee 1893 has open and closed numeral 3 entries. Mature Victoria overlaps Jubilee in 1893. The heavier Edward VII type begins in 1904; the lighter 1902–1904 type needs its own record. George V’s 1911–1920 table distinguishes proof and prooflike descriptions. Mirror or satin appearance alone does not establish a finish.

Melt value versus collector value

Keep the type, annual date, overdate, initials, edge and any documented proof or prooflike attribution with each coin. An early or uncommon date, preserved surfaces and a correctly identified finish may matter independently of reference silver weight. Proof, matte proof and prooflike are different descriptions; a shiny or worn photograph does not prove any of them. Preserve packaging and collection labels, and avoid cleaning for comparison.

Authenticity and condition

Provide complete photographs of both faces and the edge, including the full date and any unusual numeral or initials. Add actual measured mass and diameter when available. The licensed 1858 images are genuine reference photographs; they do not authenticate, grade, assay or establish the finish of another specimen. Keep patterns, replicas, wrong denominations and unresolved alloys separate.

Selling this coin

Sort sterling threepence coins separately from later .500 silver, base-metal coins, other denominations and uncertain pieces. Keep date and variety information with the photographs. The existing photo-appraisal link preserves your selected quantity for an enquiry. The reference fine-metal amount is not a purchase offer. Live dollar pricing remains unavailable until an approved provider supplies it.

Sources and calculation methodology

The reference’s designated table and the nine included dated types give 1.4138 g, .925 fineness and .042 reference fine silver ounce. The lighter Edward VII KM797.1 type gives 1.3000 g/.9250/.0387 ounce and is excluded. Its 1902–1903 dates do not belong in this heavier guide; 1904 also has the separate matching KM797.2 type. Later included tables specify 16 mm; earlier ones omit diameter, so no universal numeric diameter is inferred. 9 actual the reference dated tables and independent photographic permissions were inspected on 2026-10-11. Only specific annual rows establish the displayed years; broad headings do not fill gaps. Photo metadata does not override the reference specifications. WebP transformations retain complete faces, attribution, licence links and applicable share-alike terms without invented artwork or upscaling. No source prices, mintages or articles are reproduced.

Common questions

How much reference silver is in three matching threepence coins?Three contribute 0.126 reference fine silver troy ounces and 4.2414 nominal gross grams. This is a metal-content calculation, not a purchase offer or authentication.
Does the broad date span mean a coin was issued every year?No. This guide lists 100 specific source-supported years and retains gaps, overlapping types and finish differences. Use the displayed annual list together with the dated type.
Can the reference photographs establish purity or proof finish?No. They illustrate a particular genuine design. Match the dated standard and preserve independent attribution or testing; a photograph alone does not assay an alloy or establish a proof finish.

References

Issue-year references

Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-11. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.

Related coins

1932 KM831 oak-leaf threepence obverse — royal portrait and surrounding legend

British Silver Threepence — .500 Dated Types

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

United Kingdom • 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified

Issue years: 1920–1946

Fine silver: 0.022700 troy oz

1887 British sterling half-crown obverse — Victoria’s Jubilee bust faces left, wearing a small crown, veil, necklace and earrings.

British Sterling Silver Half-Crown — 1816–1919 Types

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

United Kingdom • 92.5% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified

Issue years: 1816–1821, 1823–1826, 1828–1829, 1831, 1834–1837, 1839–1846, 1848–1850, 1853, 1862, 1864, 1874–1919

Fine silver: 0.420400 troy oz

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