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Message:: [QUOTE="dltsrq, post: 17658401, member: 75482"]US Postal rates in 1837 were as follows.A single sheet letter mailed up to 30 miles was 6 cents. The cost went up to 10 cents if mailed from 30 to 80 miles, 12½ cents for 80 to 150 miles; 18¾ cents (1½ Spanish reales) for 150 to 400 miles; and 25 cents for a single sheet mailed more than 400 miles. In 1845, uniform postage rates were adopted, 5 cents for a half-ounce letter sent any distance less than 300 miles and 10 cents for a half-ounce letter sent over 300 miles. When the first US postage stamps were issued in 1847, they carried face values of 5 cents and 10 cents. In 1851, the basic rate was reduced from 5 cents to 3 cents and the first 3 cent stamps were issued. The 3 cent silver coin was introduced that same year. It seems unlikely that Feuchtwanger's 3 cent piece was related to postage. I like the idea outlined above that Feuchtwanger may have seen a 3 cent coin as an improvement over the half dime, particularly if this new and improved denomination were struck from his special alloy.[/QUOTE]