United States | |
| Value | 0.03 US dollars |
|---|---|
| Mass | (1851–53) 0.8 g (12.3 gr) (1854–73) 0.75 g (11.6 gr) |
| Diameter | 14 mm (0.55 in) |
| Thickness | 0.6 mm (0.024 in) |
| Edge | plain |
| Composition | |
| Years of minting | 1851–1873 |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | shield on six-pointed star |
| Designer | James Barton Longacre |
| Design date | 1851 |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Roman numeral III |
| Designer | James Barton Longacre |
| Design date | 1851 |
United States | |
| Value | 0.03 US dollars |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.94 g (29.9 gr) |
| Diameter | 17.9 mm (0.70 in) |
| Edge | plain |
| Composition | 75% Cu, 25% Ni |
| Years of minting | 1865–1889 |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | Liberty Head |
| Designer | James Barton Longacre |
| Design date | 1865 |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Roman numeral III |
| Designer | James Barton Longacre |
| Design date | 1865 |
The United States three cent piece was a unit of currency equaling 3⁄100 of a United States dollar. The mint produced two different three-cent coins for circulation: the three-cent silver and the three-cent nickel. Additionally, a three-cent bronze coin was made as a pattern in 1863. During the period from 1865 to 1873, both coins were minted, albeit in very small quantities for the silver three-cent piece.