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{{Short description|United States coin}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}}
{{distinguish|Threepence (disambiguation){{!}}Threepence}} {{distinguish|Threepence (disambiguation){{!}}Threepence}}
{{Infobox coin
{| class="infobox wikitable bordered" style="width: 22em; margin-right: 0; margin-left: 1em;"
|+ <big>Three-cent piece</big> | Denomination = Three-cent silver piece
| Country = United States
|-
| Value = 0.03
! colspan="2" | Three Cent Silver (United States)
| Unit = ]
|-
| Mass_special = (1851–53) {{convert|0.8|g|gr|1|lk=out|abbr=on}}<br>(1854–73) {{convert|0.75|g|gr|abbr=on}}
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | ]
| Diameter_special = {{convert|14|mm|abbr=on}}
|-
| Thickness_special = {{convert|0.6|mm|abbr=on}}
| '''Value:'''
| Edge = plain
| 0.03 ]
| Composition = {{plainlist |
|-
| '''Mass:'''
| (1851–53) {{convert|0.8|g|gr|1|lk=out|abbr=on}}<br>(1854–73) {{convert|0.75|g|gr|abbr=on}}
|-
| '''Diameter:'''
| {{convert|14|mm|abbr=on}}
|-
| '''Thickness:'''
| {{convert|0.6|mm|abbr=on}}
|-
| '''Edge:'''
| plain
|-
| '''Composition:'''
| {{plainlist |
* (1851–53) 75% ], 25% ] * (1851–53) 75% ], 25% ]
* (1854–73) 90% Ag, 10% Cu * (1854–73) 90% Ag, 10% Cu
}} }}
| Years of Minting = 1851–1873
|-
| Obverse = File:1852 3 Cent Silver - Type 1.jpg
! colspan="2" | Obverse
| Obverse Design = shield on six-pointed star
|-
| Obverse Designer = ]
| '''Design:'''
| Obverse Design Date = 1851
| shield on six-pointed star
| Reverse Design = ] III
|-
| '''Designer:''' | Reverse Designer = James Barton Longacre
| Reverse Design Date = 1851
| ]
}}
|-
{{Infobox coin
| '''Design Date:'''
| Denomination = Three-cent nickel
| 1851
| Country = United States
|-
| Value = 0.03
! colspan="2" | Reverse
| Unit = US dollars
|-
| Mass_special = {{convert|1.94|g|gr|abbr=on}}
! '''Design:'''
| Diameter_special = {{convert|17.9|mm|abbr=on}}
| ] III
| Edge = plain
|-
| Composition = 75% Cu, 25% ]
| '''Designer:'''
| Years of Minting = 1865–1889
| James Barton Longacre
| Obverse = File:1866 3 Cent Nickel.jpg
|-
| Obverse Design = ]
| '''Design Date:'''
| Obverse Designer = James Barton Longacre
| 1851
| Obverse Design Date = 1865
|-
| Reverse Design = Roman numeral III
! colspan="2" | Three Cent Nickel (United States)
| Reverse Designer = James Barton Longacre
|-
| Reverse Design Date = 1865
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | ]
}}
|-
| '''Value:'''
| 0.03 US dollars
|-
| '''Mass:'''
| {{convert|1.94|g|gr|abbr=on}}
|-
| '''Diameter:'''
| {{convert|17.9|mm|abbr=on}}
|-
<!-- |Thickness:
|
|- -->
| '''Edge:'''
| plain
|-
| '''Composition:'''
| 75% Cu, 25% ]
|-
! colspan="2" | Obverse
|-
| '''Design:'''
| ]
|-
| '''Designer:'''
| James Barton Longacre
|-
| '''Design Date:'''
| 1865
|-
! colspan="2" | Reverse
|-
| '''Design:'''
| Roman numeral III
|-
| '''Designer:'''
| James Barton Longacre
|-
| '''Design Date:'''
| 1865
|}


The ] '''three cent piece''' was a unit of currency equaling {{frac|3|100}} of a ]. The mint produced two different three-cent ]s for circulation: the ] and the ]. Additionally, a ] coin was made as a pattern in 1863. During the period from 1865 to 1873, both coins were minted, albeit in very small quantities for the silver three-cent piece. The ] '''three cent piece''' was a unit of currency equaling {{frac|3|100}} of a ]. The mint produced two different three-cent ]s for circulation: the ] and the ]. Additionally, a ] coin was made as a pattern in 1863. During the period from 1865 to 1873, both coins were minted, albeit in very small quantities for the silver three-cent piece.
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== History == == History ==


The three-cent coin was proposed in 1851 both as a result of the decrease in ] rates from five cents to three and to answer the need for a small-denomination, easy-to-handle coin. The three-cent silver featured a shield on a six-sided star on the obverse and the ] III on the reverse. The coin was initially composed of 75% silver and 25% ] to ensure that the coin would be considered real currency yet not worth ] for the silver. The coins were physically the lightest-weight coins ever minted by the United States, weighing only 4/5 of a gram and with a diameter smaller than a modern dime and only slightly greater than the smallest ]s. The silver coins were known as "fishscales".<ref name="coinworld" /> The term "trimes" is often used today for these coins, but that was first used by the director of the ] (]) at the time of their production. The three-cent coin was proposed in 1851 both as a result of the decrease in ] rates from five cents to three and to answer the need for a small-denomination, easy-to-handle coin. The three-cent silver featured a shield on a six-sided star on the obverse and the ] III on the reverse. The coin was initially composed of 75% silver and 25% ] to ensure that the coin would be considered real currency yet not worth melting down for the silver.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blanchard and Company |title=The Unusual Journey of the Three Cent Silver Coin |url=https://coinweek.com/us-coins/the-unusual-journey-of-the-three-cent-silver-coin/ |website=coinweek.com |publisher=CoinWeek, LLC |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> The coins were physically the lightest-weight coins ever minted by the United States, weighing only 0.8 grams and with a diameter smaller than a modern dime and only slightly greater than the smallest ]s. The silver coins were known as "fishscales".<ref name="coinworld" /> The term "trimes" is often used today for these coins, and was first used by the director of the ] (]) at the time of their production.<ref name="CDN Publishing, LLC">{{cite web |title=Can You Spare A Trime? 3-Cent Silver Coins Popular With Collectors |url=https://www.greysheet.com/news/trimes-3-cent-silver-coins-popular-with-collectors |website=greysheet.com |publisher=CDN Publishing, LLC. |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>


Starting in 1854, the three-cent silver had its silver metal content raised to 90% to encourage circulation. At the same time, its weight was reduced to 3/4 of a gram by reducing thickness. The coin went through a design change at the time such that two lines were now used to border the star on the obverse and an olive sprig was added above and a bundle of arrows below the Roman numeral III on the reverse.<ref name="wikidot" /> A final design change occurred in 1859 because of striking problems: the number of lines bordering the star was reduced to one, and the font was made taller and slightly narrower.<ref name="wikidot" /> The size of the date numerals also varied through the years, with 1860–1863 featuring the smallest date numerals of any US coin. In 1851 only, the ] struck some of the silver three-cent coins. It was minted from 1851 to 1873 at the ]. Later years had very small mintages and the 1873 issue was in ] state only, commanding prices upwards of $400. However, an earlier-date silver three-cent piece can be bought in worn condition for a relatively low price. The silver three-cent pieces can be purchased for around $25 if they are in decent shape and before 1862, depending on the mintage. The silver three-cent piece (along with the half dime, and the two-cent piece as well as the temporary suspension of the standard silver dollar in favor of the Trade Dollar) was discontinued by the ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Jim |title=Numismatic History – “Crime of 1873” Creates Coinage Chaos |url=https://coinweek.com/education/numismatic-history/numismatic-history-crime-of-1873-creates-coinage-chaos/ |website=coinweek.com |publisher=CoinWeek, LLC. |accessdate=15 January 2020}}</ref> Starting in 1854, the three-cent silver had its silver metal content raised to 90% to encourage circulation. At the same time, its weight was reduced to 0.75 grams by reducing thickness. The coin went through a design change at the time such that two lines were now used to border the star on the obverse and an olive sprig was added above and a bundle of arrows below the Roman numeral III on the reverse.<ref name="wikidot" /> A final design change occurred in 1859 because of striking problems: the number of lines bordering the star was reduced to one, and the font was made taller and slightly narrower.<ref name="wikidot" /> The size of the date numerals also varied through the years, with 1860–1863 featuring the smallest date numerals of any US coin. In 1851 only, the ] struck some of the silver three-cent coins.<ref>{{cite web |title=SILVER THREE CENTS 1851 O 3CS MS |url=https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/silver-three-cents-1851-1873-pscid-20/1851-o-3cs-ms-coinid-13665 |website=ngccoin.com |publisher=Numismatic Guaranty Corporation |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> It was minted from 1851 to 1873 at the ]. Later years had very small mintages and the 1873 issue was in ] state only, commanding prices upwards of $400. However, an earlier-date silver three-cent piece can be bought in worn condition for a relatively low price. The silver three-cent pieces can be purchased for around $25 if they are in decent shape and before 1862, depending on the mintage. The silver three-cent piece (along with the half dime, and the two-cent piece as well as the temporary suspension of the standard silver dollar in favor of the Trade Dollar) was discontinued by the ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Jim |title=Numismatic History – “Crime of 1873” Creates Coinage Chaos |url=https://coinweek.com/education/numismatic-history/numismatic-history-crime-of-1873-creates-coinage-chaos/ |website=coinweek.com |publisher=CoinWeek, LLC. |access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>


{{anchor|Three-cent nickel}}]-era silver shortages led to widespread ] of all silver coins, and most one- and five-cent coins, as well. Various alternatives were tried, including ] and privately issued coinage. The ] eventually settled on issuing ]. These small denomination (3 to 50 cent) ] were never popular, as they were easy to lose and unwieldy in large amounts. The answer to this issue was reached in 1865 with the introduction of the three-cent nickel coin, composed of copper and nickel and larger than the silver coin of the same denomination. The coin featured a Liberty head obverse and another Roman numeral III reverse. The three-cent nickel was never intended as a permanent issue, only as a stopgap measure until the wartime hoarding ceased. Production began to taper off in the 1870s (except for an anomalously large coinage in 1881), but mintage of the denomination did not finally end until 1889. One reason often given for the discontinuation of the three-cent nickel piece in 1889 is that this coin and the ] (10-cent silver coin) were identical in diameter, hence caused confusion upon the introduction of mechanical ].{{Dubious|date=September 2010|reason="Confusion" is a bizarre word here: machines are fooled, not confused, and there is no reason that the introduction of machines should confuse people about coins! The coin ''would'' become problematic for 19th-cent'y machines bcz of *fraud*, but addressing this by ceasing ''issuance'' of the 3¢ would not protect vending machine operators from up to $770,000 of fraud against dime machines, which was not then, uh, chump change for a nascent industry.}} Another factor may have been that in 1883, the ] dropped to 2 cents, thus removing the justification for this coin.<ref name="NYTimes 1883-09-02" /> {{anchor|Three-cent nickel}}]-era silver shortages led to widespread ] of all silver coins, and most one- and five-cent coins, as well.<ref name="CDN Publishing, LLC"/> Various alternatives were tried, including ] and privately issued coinage. The ] eventually settled on issuing ]. These small denomination (3 to 50 cent) ] were never popular, as they were easy to lose and unwieldy in large amounts. The answer to this issue was reached in 1865 with the introduction of the three-cent nickel coin, composed of copper and nickel and larger than the silver coin of the same denomination. The coin featured a Liberty head obverse and another Roman numeral III reverse. The three-cent nickel was never intended as a permanent issue, only as a stopgap measure until the wartime hoarding ceased. Production began to taper off in the 1870s (except for an anomalously large coinage in 1881), but mintage of the denomination did not finally end until 1889. One reason often given for the discontinuation of the three-cent nickel piece in 1889 is that this coin and the ] (10-cent silver coin) were identical in diameter. Another factor may have been that in 1883, the ] dropped to 2 cents, thus removing the justification for this coin.<ref name="NYTimes 1883-09-02" />


The three-cent nickel was only minted in Philadelphia, and except for a larger date on the 1889 pieces, had no design differences throughout its run. Over the course of the series, mintage declined, and some of the dates are scarce, but with an 1865 mintage over 11 million, a type piece can be inexpensively obtained. The three-cent nickel was only minted in Philadelphia, and except for a larger date on the 1889 pieces, had no design differences throughout its run. Over the course of the series, mintage declined, and some of the dates are scarce, but with an 1865 mintage over 11 million, a type piece can be inexpensively obtained.


=== Glass Coins === === Glass coins ===
There was some discussion of minting a glass 3-cent coin to relieve the demand on copper during World War II<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Glass 3-Cent Piece |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/48324334/ |work=The Ottawa Journal |date=1942-10-31 |page=36 |access-date=2018-04-06}}</ref>. There was some discussion of minting a glass 3-cent coin to relieve the demand on copper during World War II.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Glass 3-Cent Piece |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/48324334/ |work=The Ottawa Journal |date=1942-10-31 |page=36 |access-date=2018-04-06}}</ref>
It is possible other denomination glass coins were being considered as well. It is possible other denomination glass coins were being considered as well.


=== Mintage figures === === Mintage figures ===


'''Three cent (silver), 1851–1873'''<ref name="Yeoman">{{cite book |last1=Yeoman |first1=R.S. |last2=Bressett |first2=Kenneth |last3=Garrett |first3=Jeff |last4=Bowers |first4=Q. David |title=A Guide Book of United States Coins |date=2019 |publisher=Whitman Publishing |location=Pelham, Alabama}}</ref>
'''Three cent (silver), 1851–1873'''
{{Div col}} {{Div col}}
* 1851 (P) – 5,447,400 * 1851 (P) – 5,447,400
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{{div col end}} {{div col end}}


'''Three cent (nickel), 1865–1889''' '''Three cent (nickel), 1865–1889'''<ref name="Yeoman" />
{{Div col}} {{Div col}}
* 1865 (P) – 11,382,000 * 1865 (P) – 11,382,000
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== External links == == External links ==
* Histories, photos, and more. * Histories, photos, and more.
* *
* *
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Three-Cent Piece (United States Coin)}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Three-Cent Piece (United States Coin)}}
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 13:48, 8 March 2024

United States coin Not to be confused with Threepence.
Three-cent silver piece
United States
Value0.03 US dollars
Mass(1851–53) 0.8 g (12.3 gr)
(1854–73) 0.75 g (11.6 gr)
Diameter14 mm (0.55 in)
Thickness0.6 mm (0.024 in)
Edgeplain
Composition
  • (1851–53) 75% Ag, 25% Cu
  • (1854–73) 90% Ag, 10% Cu
Years of minting1851–1873
Obverse
Designshield on six-pointed star
DesignerJames Barton Longacre
Design date1851
Reverse
DesignRoman numeral III
DesignerJames Barton Longacre
Design date1851
Three-cent nickel
United States
Value0.03 US dollars
Mass1.94 g (29.9 gr)
Diameter17.9 mm (0.70 in)
Edgeplain
Composition75% Cu, 25% Ni
Years of minting1865–1889
Obverse
DesignLiberty Head
DesignerJames Barton Longacre
Design date1865
Reverse
DesignRoman numeral III
DesignerJames Barton Longacre
Design date1865

The United States three cent piece was a unit of currency equaling 3⁄100 of a United States dollar. The mint produced two different three-cent coins for circulation: the three-cent silver and the three-cent nickel. Additionally, a three-cent bronze coin was made as a pattern in 1863. During the period from 1865 to 1873, both coins were minted, albeit in very small quantities for the silver three-cent piece.

History

The three-cent coin was proposed in 1851 both as a result of the decrease in postage rates from five cents to three and to answer the need for a small-denomination, easy-to-handle coin. The three-cent silver featured a shield on a six-sided star on the obverse and the Roman numeral III on the reverse. The coin was initially composed of 75% silver and 25% copper to ensure that the coin would be considered real currency yet not worth melting down for the silver. The coins were physically the lightest-weight coins ever minted by the United States, weighing only 0.8 grams and with a diameter smaller than a modern dime and only slightly greater than the smallest gold dollars. The silver coins were known as "fishscales". The term "trimes" is often used today for these coins, and was first used by the director of the United States Mint (James Ross Snowden) at the time of their production.

Starting in 1854, the three-cent silver had its silver metal content raised to 90% to encourage circulation. At the same time, its weight was reduced to 0.75 grams by reducing thickness. The coin went through a design change at the time such that two lines were now used to border the star on the obverse and an olive sprig was added above and a bundle of arrows below the Roman numeral III on the reverse. A final design change occurred in 1859 because of striking problems: the number of lines bordering the star was reduced to one, and the font was made taller and slightly narrower. The size of the date numerals also varied through the years, with 1860–1863 featuring the smallest date numerals of any US coin. In 1851 only, the New Orleans Mint struck some of the silver three-cent coins. It was minted from 1851 to 1873 at the Philadelphia Mint. Later years had very small mintages and the 1873 issue was in proof state only, commanding prices upwards of $400. However, an earlier-date silver three-cent piece can be bought in worn condition for a relatively low price. The silver three-cent pieces can be purchased for around $25 if they are in decent shape and before 1862, depending on the mintage. The silver three-cent piece (along with the half dime, and the two-cent piece as well as the temporary suspension of the standard silver dollar in favor of the Trade Dollar) was discontinued by the Coinage Act of 1873.

Civil War-era silver shortages led to widespread hoarding of all silver coins, and most one- and five-cent coins, as well. Various alternatives were tried, including encapsulated postage and privately issued coinage. The Treasury eventually settled on issuing fractional currency. These small denomination (3 to 50 cent) notes were never popular, as they were easy to lose and unwieldy in large amounts. The answer to this issue was reached in 1865 with the introduction of the three-cent nickel coin, composed of copper and nickel and larger than the silver coin of the same denomination. The coin featured a Liberty head obverse and another Roman numeral III reverse. The three-cent nickel was never intended as a permanent issue, only as a stopgap measure until the wartime hoarding ceased. Production began to taper off in the 1870s (except for an anomalously large coinage in 1881), but mintage of the denomination did not finally end until 1889. One reason often given for the discontinuation of the three-cent nickel piece in 1889 is that this coin and the dime (10-cent silver coin) were identical in diameter. Another factor may have been that in 1883, the letter postage rate dropped to 2 cents, thus removing the justification for this coin.

The three-cent nickel was only minted in Philadelphia, and except for a larger date on the 1889 pieces, had no design differences throughout its run. Over the course of the series, mintage declined, and some of the dates are scarce, but with an 1865 mintage over 11 million, a type piece can be inexpensively obtained.

Glass coins

There was some discussion of minting a glass 3-cent coin to relieve the demand on copper during World War II. It is possible other denomination glass coins were being considered as well.

Mintage figures

Three cent (silver), 1851–1873

  • 1851 (P) – 5,447,400
  • 1851 O – 720,000
  • 1852 (P) – 18,663,500
  • 1853 (P) – 11,400,000
  • 1854 (P) – 671,000
  • 1855 (P) – 139,000
  • 1856 (P) – 1,458,000
  • 1857 (P) – 1,042,000
  • 1858 (P) – 1,603,700
  • 1859 (P) – 364,200
  • 1860 (P) – 286,000
  • 1861 (P) – 497,000
  • 1862 (P) – 343,000
  • 1863 (P) – 21,000
  • 1864 (P) – 12,000
  • 1865 (P) – 8,000
  • 1866 (P) – 22,000
  • 1867 (P) – 4,000
  • 1868 (P) – 3,500
  • 1869 (P) – 4,500
  • 1870 (P) – 3,000
  • 1871 (P) – 3,400
  • 1872 (P) – 1,000
  • 1873 (P) – 600 (all proof)

Three cent (nickel), 1865–1889

  • 1865 (P) – 11,382,000
  • 1866 (P) – 4,801,000
  • 1867 (P) – 3,915,000
  • 1868 (P) – 3,252,000
  • 1869 (P) – 1,604,000
  • 1870 (P) – 1,335,000
  • 1871 (P) – 604,000
  • 1872 (P) – 862,000
  • 1873 (P) – 1,173,000
  • 1874 (P) – 790,000
  • 1875 (P) – 228,000
  • 1876 (P) – 162,000
  • 1877 (P) – About 510 (all proof)
  • 1878 (P) – 2,350 (all proof)
  • 1879 (P) – 38,000
  • 1880 (P) – 21,000
  • 1881 (P) – 1,077,000
  • 1882 (P) – 22,200
  • 1883 (P) – 4,000
  • 1884 (P) – 1,700
  • 1885 (P) – 1,000
  • 1886 (P) – 4,290 (all proof)
  • 1887 (P) – 5,000
  • 1888 (P) – 36,500
  • 1889 (P) – 18,190

See also

References

  1. Blanchard and Company. "The Unusual Journey of the Three Cent Silver Coin". coinweek.com. CoinWeek, LLC. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  2. CoinWorld Silver 3 Cents
  3. ^ "Can You Spare A Trime? 3-Cent Silver Coins Popular With Collectors". greysheet.com. CDN Publishing, LLC. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  4. ^ Silver Three Cents: 1851–1873
  5. "SILVER THREE CENTS 1851 O 3CS MS". ngccoin.com. Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  6. Wells, Jim. "Numismatic History – "Crime of 1873" Creates Coinage Chaos". coinweek.com. CoinWeek, LLC. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. "The Three-Cent Piece" (PDF). The New York Times. September 2, 1883.
  8. "Glass 3-Cent Piece". The Ottawa Journal. 1942-10-31. p. 36. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  9. ^ Yeoman, R.S.; Bressett, Kenneth; Garrett, Jeff; Bowers, Q. David (2019). A Guide Book of United States Coins. Pelham, Alabama: Whitman Publishing.

Further reading

  • Q. David Bowers, United States Three-Cent and Five-Cent Pieces: An Action Guide for the Collector and Investor. Wolfeboro, NH: Bowers and Merena Galleries, 1985.

External links

Circulating coinage of the United States
Half cent (1⁄2¢)
Large cent and
penny (1¢)
Two cents (2¢)
  • Billon (1836)
  • Bronze (1864–1873, patterns struck in 1863)
Three cents (3¢)
Half dime and
nickel (5¢)
Dime (10¢)
Twenty cents (20¢)
Quarter (25¢)
Half dollar (50¢)
Dollar ($1)
Gold
Gold dollar ($1)
Quarter eagle ($2.50)
Three dollars ($3)
Half eagle ($5)
Eagle ($10)
Double eagle ($20)
Other canceled
denominations
  • (italics) Obsolete
  • Canceled
  • (bold) Currently in production
  • Currently produced for collectors only
  • (bold and italics) Planned but production not commenced
Obsolete United States currency and coinage
Topics
Coins
Gold coins
Currency
Discontinued denominations
Discontinued currency types
Related
Coinage of the United States
Circulating
Obsolete
Canceled
Commemorative
Bullion
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Three-cent piece: Difference between revisions Add topic