Gary's Type Set
3C COPPER-NICKEL (1865-1889)

Owner Comments:

The Nickel Three Cent Piece, authorized by Congress on March 3, 1865 was to be a stopgap coin until the Trime, hoarded by the public since 1862, returned as a circulating coin. However, the Trime never reappeared and the Nickel Three Cent Piece became the coin of choice for the public to exchange their hated fractional currency. This coin, unlike the Two-Cent Piece and the bronze Indian Head Cent (redeemable for up to four cents), was redeemable for up to 60 cents. Instantly popular with the public this coin sealed the fate of the Silver Three Cent Piece discontinued by the Coinage Act of 1873. However, it would not be long before the Nickel Three Cent Piece fell out of favor with the public as well. With declining mintages after its initial years of issue, minting of the Nickel Three Cent Piece ended in 1889 concurrently with an increase in the rate of first-class postage. Designed by J.B. Longacre, this coin features a left facing bust of Lady Liberty on the obverse wearing a coronet and the Roman numeral three inside a laurel wreath on the reverse. This coin, heavily lobbied for by nickel miners has a composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel.