An attractive example of the 1855 three cent silver achieved the highest price on day one of Heritage Auctions' US Coin FUN Signature Auction, which runs January 9-14 in Orlando.

The price achieved in yesterday's sale far outstrips any other seen at the auction house for a similar grade example

Walter Freeman's collection of three cent silvers got the event off to a great start, with the 1855 proof selling for $44,062. This is the highest price ever achieved at Heritage Auctions for a three cent silver graded PR65, with the closest sale being a $13,225 example sold in August 2011.

The 1855 three cent silver was never distributed in large quantities and is a rarity in any grade, with only around 50 surviving examples known today. It is also one of the type two designs, which saw the silver content raised to 90% as well as the addition of an olive branch and arrows to the reverse. They are notoriously scarce in proof condition.

This example was especially valued for its magnificent eye-appeal, an attractive multicoloured patina covering its surfaces.

When collecting three cent silvers, the earlier the type two proof, the rarer it becomes

Also featuring was the Garratt specimen of the 1854 type two three cent silver, which sold for $38,187. A fantastic early proof example, the sale was boosted by the coin's provenance from the esteemed collection of banker John Work Garratt.

Proof 1854 three cent silvers have crossed the block at Heritage Auctions just eight times in the past two decades, this appearance included.

The US Coin FUN auction follows Heritage's Ancient and World Coins Signature Auction, which was topped by an 1887 Victoria gold crown.

Paul Fraser Collectibles will be bringing you more from Heritage Auctions in the coming days, so be sure to visit our coins & banknotes news section regularly. We also have a superb selection of rare coins for sale, featuring beautiful examples from across the world.