1873 Three Cent Coin - Choose by Grade, Condition - Civil War Era - 3 Cent Nickel 1873 - Open 3 Variety

Fun Fact: Abraham Lincoln was sworn in for a second term as president only minutes after signing the bill authorizing the three-cent nickel.

The Three Cent Nickel was produced by the U.S. Mint from 1865 to 1889. During the years 1865 to 1873, the mint also produced a three cent silver piece as well. Because the series was only produced by the mint for a 25 year period, several of its editions may be considered rare and collectable. In fact, rare dated coins may trade for over three times the premium of common date coins.

The Three Cent Nickel was never popular as a circulation coin.

With precious metal federal coinage hoarded during the economic turmoil of the American Civil War, including the silver three-cent piece, and even the copper-nickel cent commanding a premium, Congress issued paper money in denominations as small as three cents to replace the hoarded coins in commerce. These small slips of paper became ragged and dirty, and the public came to hate "shinplasters". After the issuance in 1864 of a lighter bronze cent and a two-cent piece of that metal, both of which circulated freely, there were proposals for a three-cent piece in copper-nickel to replace the three-cent note.