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1851 - 3¢ Domestic Rate

United States Trime

 

28 July 1851 Lowell to Roxbury, Massachusetts
3¢ orange brown adhesive and 3 cts Paid rate datestamp, first month of usage

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The March 3, 1851 Act of Congress reduced the postal rate for a single letter sent up to 3,000 miles to three cents. The 3¢ stamp was issued on July 1, 1851 for prepayment of this postal rate.
       

1851 three cent “trime” minted in Philadelphia

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This same act of March 3, 1851 also authorized the first issuance of a three cent coin. This is the first instance of a coin being issued directly to aid in the payment of a postal rate in the United States.

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Richard Frajola, May 2006