Three-cent nickel piece

The copper-nickel three-cent piece, often called a three-cent nickel piece or three-cent nickel, was designed by US Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre and struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint from 1865 to 1889. It was initially popular, but its place in commerce was supplanted by the five-cent piece, or nickel.

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Three Cent Nickel (United States)
Source: en.wikipedia.org

Value: 0.03 US dollars
Mass: 1.94 g (29.9 gr)
Diameter: 17.9 mm (0.70 in)
Edge: plain
Composition: 75% Cu, 25% Ni
Obverse
Design: Liberty Head
Designer: James Barton Longacre
Design Date: 1865
Reverse
Design: Roman numeral III
Designer: James Barton Longacre
Design Date: 1865

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Nickel Three Cents: 1865-1889
Source: typesets.wikidot.com

Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1865-1889
Mints: Philadelphia
Composition: 0.750 copper, 0.250 nickel
Diameter: 17.9 mm
Weight: 1.94 grams
Total Mintage: approx. 31,332,527
Edge: plain

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Early years (1865–73)
Source: en.wikipedia.org

The three-cent nickel piece was very popular when it entered circulation in mid-1865. More convenient than the larger two-cent bronze piece, it largely replaced that coin, starting the two-cent on its way to decreased popularity and abolition in 1873. The hard alloy, though, caused high levels of die breakage. Between 1865 and 1876, some 17 million three-cent pieces were used by the government to redeem the three-cent fractional currency notes.

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Decline and end (1873–90)
Source: en.wikipedia.org

On January 18, 1873, Philadelphia Mint Chief Coiner A. Loudon Snowden formally complained to Pollock that on the new year's coins, the digit "3" too closely resembled an "8". Pollock ordered Chief Engraver William Barber (Longacre had died in office on January 1, 1869) to redo the logotypes for the date. Thus, most denominations of American coinage dated 1873, including the three-cent nickel piece, have varieties: the Close (or Closed) 3 from early in the year, and the Open 3 from after Barber made his modifications. A total of 390,000 Closed 3 and 783,000 Open 3 of the three-cent nickel were minted.

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3 Cents "Three Cent Nickel"
Source: en.numista.com

KM# 95
Features
Country United States
Years 1865-1889
Value 3 Cents (0.03 USD)
Metal Copper-nickel
Weight 1.94 g
Diameter 17.9 mm
Engraver James Barton Longacre
Shape Round
Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓

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