Description

The United States Three Cents is an unusual denomination that first appeared in 1851, although pattern coins for the denomination were produced in 1849 and 1850. The original purpose of the Three Cents coins to provide an intermediate denomination between the Cent and Half Dime, making it easier to change some of the odd foreign coins that were legal tender in America at that time. In 1851, postal rates were dropped from five to three cents. While three Large Cents could have been used to purchase a postage stamp, the bulky copper coins were expensive to produce. Thus, a coin of three cents value had two purposes, enough to get the denomination started in 1851.

The first Three Cents were made of a low-grade silver. These tiny coins were known officially as "Trimes" and unofficially as "fish scales." They were the first circulating U.S. coin without a depiction of Miss Liberty in some form or other. In 1854, the percentage of silver in the coins was increased to 90%, to match that of the other silver coins in production at the time.

This is the last of three sub-types of the silver Three Cents, issued from 1859 to 1873. The changes include removal of one of the outlines around the star, with smaller and more evenly spaced lettering. These changes only affected the obverse; the reverse was not altered. Interesting varieties in the series include: 1862: 2 over 1, 1863: 3 over 2, 1869, 9 over 8.

Engraver: the U.S. Mint’s chief engraver, James Barton Longacre, who also created Flying Eagle and Indian Head cents, Shield nickels, and Liberty Head double eagles.