US Coins - 2-Cents and 3-Cents Pieces
This page depicts only US 2-Cent and 3-Cent pieces, the representatives of a few types (not all), that I dug up at various locations in the North-East USA.
TWO-CENT PIECE, 1864 - 1873
Specifics:
Diameter:
23 mm
Weight: 6.22 grams or 96 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 95%
copper, 5% tin/zink
Quantity minted: 45,601,000
Proofs minted: 1,100 (1873
record)
Mint marks: None
Designers: James Longacre
OBVERSE: Due largerly to the increased religious sentiment during the Civil War crisis, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appeared, for the first time on any United States coin, in a scrolled ribbon above the shield assembly. There are two varieties for the first year of issue, 1864: the small motto (with the open D in GOD), which is scarce, and the large motto (with the closed D).
Key-dates:
1864 Small motto, 1872, 1873 (Closed 3, proofs only, est. 600), 1873 (Open 3, restrike, est. 500)
NICKEL THREE-CENT PIECES (LIBERTY HEAD) 1865 - 1889
NO PHOTO
Specifics:
Diameter: 17.9 mm
Weight: 1.94 grams or
30 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Quantity
minted: 32,378,316
Proofs minted: 46,889
Mint marks: None
Designers:
James Longacre
OBVERSE: The profile of Liberty, facing left, with slightly longer tresses than the Indian head profile, is nevertheless from the same model - his daughter, Sarah - used by Longacre on many of his works.
REVERSE: The denomination is symbolically indicated with a large Roman III inside a wreath of laurel. The borders are embattled denticles and there are no other markings on the field.
Key-dates:
1883, 1884, 1885, 1887 (All kinds), 1887 (7 over 6)
These pieces were designed to replace the silver three-cent coins. All were coined at Philadelphia Mint.
SILVER THREE-CENT PIECES 1851 - 1873
VARIETY 1 -- Single-Line Star, 1851 - 1853
Specifics:
Diameter:
14 mm
Weight: .80 gram or 12-3/8 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 75%
silver, 25% copper
Quantity minted: 36,230,090
Proofs minted: None
Mint marks: O-1851 only
Mints: Philadelphia, New Orleans
Designers: James
Longacre
Key-dates:
1851O
VARIETY 2 -- Triple-Line Star, 1854 - 1858
NO PHOTO
Specifics:
Diameter: 14 mm
Weight: .75 gram or 11.52 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 90% silver,
10% copper
Quantity minted: 4,914,000
Proofs minted: None of record
Mint marks: None
Mints: Philadelphia
Designers: James Longacre
OBVERSE:The design is essentially the same as Variety 1 except for the triple configuration line of the star.
REVERSE: The original design remained untouched but a small sprig of laurel above the Roman numeral III and a bundle of three arrows added below.
Key-dates:
1855
VARIETY 3 -- Double-Line Star, 1859 - 1873
NO PHOTO
Specifics:
Diameter: 14
mm
Weight: .75 gram or 11.52 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 90% silver,
10% copper
Quantity minted: 1,581,490
Proofs minted: 10,040
Mint marks:
None
Mints: Philadelphia
Designers: James Longacre
The motiv and the device remained unaltered but the star had only two configuration lines. The reverse was unchanged.
Key-dates:
1863, 1863 (3 over 2), 1864, 1869 (9 over 8), 1873 (Closed 3, proof only)
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