3c Silvers Three Cents Coins: US Coins & Paper Money
Another one of James Longacre’s designs, the three cent silver pieces are the first three cent pieces to be minted, starting in 1851. They were measured at 14 millimeters in diameter, 1.55 millimeters thick, and weighed 0.8 grams in their conception. These coins loss weight in 1854, dropping the mass of the three cent silver piece from the 0.8 grams to 0.75 grams. The coin was composed of 75% silver and 25% copper; to insure that the coin would still be accepted currency yet not so heavy in silver that it would be melted down to extract it. All of these coins were minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, except the first year where they were also created in New Orleans, Louisiana. This created the lightest coin to ever be minted by the United States.
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In 1954, the reduction in weight was contributed to the adding more silver to the compound, taking the 75% silver content to 90%. This was done to encourage circulation of the three cent silver piece, which seemed to be lacking at that time. And there was some backlash at the decision to raise the content of the three cent silver piece higher, especially with the Civil War breaking out.
Citizens decided to hold onto these silver pieces instead of keeping them in circulation, understanding that there was a great need for the metal. This was the birth of the three cent nickel. These three cent silver pieces are worth induction to the collection, as they are the first three cent pieces made.
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