The Three Cent Nickel was a post Civil War era Coin widely considered Uniquely European in design.
Historic Three Cent Nickel Pieces from 1865 to 1889 represent a pleasing way to collect American art from the post-Civil War period of American coinage. During the United States Westward Expansion while railroads were being constructed from coast to coast, America was also embarking on a period of reconstruction and Industrial expansion. The three cent nickel piece has a unique history as part of this exansion. Widespread hoarding of silver coins had vexed the United States Treasury during and after the Civil War. In response, various alternatives to the silver nickel were attempted including privately issued coins and fractional currency notes. These were never popular with the public, and therefore, in 1865, the three cent piece was introduced. Composed of 75% copper bullion and 25% nickel, these pieces were useful since the single letter rate for postage at the time was three cents, and they didn’t contain the silver alloy so often hoarded at the time. This coin was intended to be a temporary measure, but it continued in circulation until 1889 when its similarity in size to the ten cent coin made it easily confused. The Three Cent Nickel Piece weighs 1.94 grams and measures 17.9 millimeters in diameter. Pieces in very good condition from this period are rare and prized by collectors.
