The Weird Denominations: Putting “Show Grading Question” in Context — How 2-Cent Pieces, 3-Cent Silvers, and Half Dimes Reveal the Perils of Odd Money and Borderline Grades

The history of money is littered with failed experiments and downright odd denominations. I want to explore how one collector’s modern dilemma fits into that weird lineage. After decades of handling, grading, and contextualizing American coinage, I’ve come to see that the modern collector’s headache—submitting a borderline coin at Economy tier versus a pricier tier—mirrors the very uncertainties that doomed our strangest denominations. In this piece, I’ll weave the lessons of the Show Grading Question forum thread together with the saga of fractional and odd-denomination coinage: the 2-cent piece, the 3-cent silver, and the half dime.

Why Odd Denominations Exist (and Why They Fail)

In my experience studying 19th-century American currency, governments rarely minted strange denominations for fun. They did it to solve a passing economic problem. The 1800s U.S. faced chronic small-change shortages, postage changes, and metal price swings. Yet those same forces eventually erased the coins they created.

When we debate a coin that “could grade AU58 to MS65” with a $1,000–$8,000 swing, we’re really talking about ambiguity. Odd denominations lived and died on similar ambiguity. Was the public confused? Did they cost more to make than they were worth? I’ve examined countless survivors and concluded failed denominations share three traits:

• They addressed a narrow, temporary need (e.g., a specific postage rate).
• They overlapped functionally with another denomination.
• Production or metal costs outpaced their face utility.

The Half Dime: A Denomination Born of Necessity

The half dime (5 cents) was authorized by the Mint Act of 1792. Initially about 89.2% silver and 10.8% copper, it was the smallest silver coin for decades. I’ve handled 1794 Flowing Hair half dimes and later Capped Bust and Liberty Seated types. Despite its long run (1792–1873), it was killed by the copper-nickel 5-cent piece—the “nickel”—because folks preferred a larger, legible coin. Its failure was slow marginalization, much like a coin lingering at AU58 when it might be MS63.

The 2-Cent Piece: Patriotic Experiment

The 2-cent piece (first struck 1864) appeared during the Civil War when nickel and silver vanished. Bronze (95% copper, 5% tin/zinc), it introduced “IN GOD WE TRUST.” I view it as a classic odd-denomination crisis response. Discontinued by 1873, it found little daily use, and the 3-cent nickel and fractional currency overlapped. I’ve graded 1864 Small Motto 2-cent pieces (a rare variety) where AU58 to MS65 meant a leap from $400 to over $4,000—echoing the forum’s spread.

The 3-Cent Silver: Solving the Postage Puzzle

The 3-cent silver (1851–1873) was born to match the 1851 drop in letter postage to three cents. At .750 silver until 1853, then .900, it was tiny (14 mm). I’ve examined early issues and later Liberty Head types. It worked—until the 3-cent nickel (1865) and rate changes made it redundant. Its failure teaches that hyper-specific denominations are fragile.

Grading Borderline Coins: Lessons from the Show Grading Question Thread

The thread “Show Grading Question” centered on a practical quandary: submit at Economy tier (max value $2,500, fee ~$70) or pay ~$80 more when a coin might grade AU58 to MS65? One participant noted the spread: roughly $1,000 at AU58 up to $8,000 at MS65. As a historian, I see this as the modern echo of denominational uncertainty.

Does Submission Tier Affect the Grade?

Multiple respondents argued standards should be identical across tiers. One experienced submitter said:

It should not matter. Some people will claim it makes a difference and that could be true but there is just not enough data out there to make the matter anything but anecdotal.

I agree—from a monetary historian’s standpoint, the system aims for uniformity, yet human variability intrudes. Another dealer warned against mixing “subpar quality coins” with premium ones, noting graders may “over scrutinise the whole order.” Tangible takeaway: submit your best odd-denomination pieces separately from junk.

The Subjectivity of AU58 to MS63

One contributor (Proofmorgan) shared that resubmitting yielded different grades within AU58–MS63, and an AU55 later regraded MS61 with CAC approval—a jump near $80,000. I’ve seen identical behavior in 2-cent and 3-cent silvers. Tiny rub hidden by toning can mask Mint State status. As the thread noted, “An AU58 is a very nice MS with tiny bits of rub, which could be hidden by the toning unless you know what you are looking for.” This is why I advise collectors to seek experienced graders’ opinions before choosing a tier.

Actionable Takeaways for Buyers and Sellers of Odd Denominations

Whether you collect half dimes or 3-cent silvers, the grading debate applies directly:

1. Get pre-submission opinions: As MFeld advised, consult knowledgeable collectors/dealers to narrow the AU58–MS65 range before paying fees.
2. Use Economy tier confidently: PCGS and others upcharge if the coin exceeds declared value; one user confirmed a move from $500 to $15k with adjusted fees.
3. Don’t game the system repeatedly: Constant under-declaring may appear as fee circumvention.
4. Isolate quality coins: Avoid grouping high-grade odd denominations with low-grade filler.
5. Photograph and GTG (Guess The Grade): The thread spawned an image post; do the same for your 1864 2-cent or 1851 3-cent silver.

Metal, Mint Marks, and VAMs in Odd Denominations

In my grading records, I’ve noted specific technical markers:

• 2-Cent Piece: 1864 “Small Motto” vs “Large Motto”; bronze composition; no mint mark until 1865 (Philadelphia only).
• 3-Cent Silver: 1851–1853 obverse with “III” or “3”? Most are Philadelphia; 1851–1853 .750 silver; 1854–1873 .900 silver.
• Half Dime: 1794–1795 Flowing Hair; 1829–1837 Capped Bust; 1837–1873 Liberty Seated. No mint marks pre-1838; New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S), Carson City (CC) later.

VAM (Van Allen–Mallis) die studies are common for Morgan dollars, but variety attribution in 2-cent and 3-cent pieces (e.g., repunched dates) can shift grade perception and numismatic value.

Why Certain Denominations Failed: A Historian’s Synthesis

The half dime fell to the nickel’s size advantage. The 2-cent piece died from redundancy and low commerce utility. The 3-cent silver was a victim of its own success—too tied to a postal rate that changed. All three show that when a coin’s purpose blurs, its market and grade spread blur too. The collector facing an AU58–MS65 swing faces the same institutional ambiguity that killed these denominations.

Collectibility and the Modern Market

Today, high-grade 2-cent pieces (MS65 red) command premiums for their eye appeal and luster. 3-cent silvers in MS65 are scarce and beloved by type collectors; half dimes in MS65 (especially 1830s) are blue-chip with strong provenance demand. The grading question is not trivial: a $70 Economy submission vs $150 higher tier is meaningless if the coin is mint condition, but painful if AU58. As one participant said, the extra fee is “almost irrelevant if the coin ends up grading on the higher end.”

Conclusion: History Rhymes in the Grading Room

In summing up the collectibility and historical weight of these odd denominations, I conclude the Show Grading Question is a microcosm of monetary evolution. The 2-cent piece, 3-cent silver, and half dime were experiments that failed because their boundaries were unclear. Your borderline coin’s grade boundary is unclear for the same human reasons: patina, strike, and subjective reading. As a monetary historian, I urge you to embrace the weird history, submit wisely, and remember that every odd denomination once represented hope for a better monetary system—and every grade spread represents the eternal negotiation between face value and true worth.

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