Here’s a first year Three Cent Piece, 1865, so a Civil War coin. Three Cent Nickel pieces were produced because the public hoarded the Three Cent Silver coins. Despite this silver ones were still produced for circulation until 1873 but in very low numbers. The highest mintage for a silver piece for duplicate years was a total of 22,000. The nickel pieces had the lowest mintage for those same years with a total produced of just over 1 million coins. Here’s my 1865 Nickel Three Cent Piece, first year coin.
They also resorted to paper for the same reasons. The only 3 cent note was issued from 12/5/1864 until 8/16/1869. I don't imagine the businesses really liked any of them because the odd denomination would have made change cumbersome.
Yeah, the 3-cent coins and paper weren't popular with anyone. Even modern collectors mostly stay away from the coins but they are a nice niche collectable. Bruce
hehe I love 3 cent nickles (1865 and later) but I love the 3 cent silvers just as much so here are all 3 silver types and a later 3 cent nickle as well
I have saved a nice collection of Civil War dates. The history behind them is special to me. They will go to my son when the time comes.
It is an nice set. I have the 1885, the only one I don't have is the 1884, also a killer coin. I could finish the set if I would break down and buy a proof (a lot cheaper), but all the others are business strikes. And the three cent nickels came out in 1865, but they weren't authorized until after the Civil War was over.
For me it isn't right because I collect coins, and I don't consider proofs to be real coins. For me a COIN it something issued with the intent that it circulate as money. Proofs are not intended to circulate as money. They CAN circulate but they aren't intended to.
