The Three Cent piece is a very interesting coin. It was actually 2 different coins composed of totally different materials minted during overlapping years.
From 1851 to 1853 it was made of 75% silver and 25% copper. From 1854 to 1873 the silver content was increased to 90% and 10% copper. The obverse featured the shield on a 6 pointed start with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" encircling it and the date at the bottom point of the star. A Roman numeral "III" was featured on the reverse. Physically these were the lightest coins ever minted by the U.S. Mint and were known as fishscales or trimes. The coins were only 14mm in diamter and 1.5mm thick. With the exception of 1851 when a few were minted in New Orleans all of the coins were minted in Philadelphia.
The nickel Three cent coin first appeard in 1865 and was minted till 1889 and was never intended to be a continuing issue, but was meant to be a stopgap until wartime hoarding of coins ended. This coin feature a bust of lady Liberty on the obverse surrounded by "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" with the date immediately below Lady Liberty. On the reverse is the Roman numeral "III" surrounded by a wreath. Physically the coins are 17.9mm in diameter and is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel. All of the nickel Three Cent coins were minted in Philadelphia.
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The Three Cent piece is sought after by collectors and investors alike. I don't know of any collector who wouldn't want to own at least one.
Three Cent Silver 1851-1873
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 1852 THREE CENT PIECE- SILVER 2090 SBE- TR  US $44.99 16m See Full Details |
 1853 Three Cent Silver HIGH GRADE AU SHARP SOME TONE US $99.000 Bid 1h 36m See Full Details |
 VERY CHOICE UNC 1851-O silver THREE CENT PIECE 8-27a US $350.002h 36m See Full Details |
 1851 Three-Cent Silver Piece Very Good igx US $85.003h 44m See Full Details |
 1860 Silver Three Cent Piece - Choice BU - Multi-Color US $499.004h 53m See Full Details |
 1862 Three Cent Silver graded MS62 by PCGS US $182.5011 Bids 5h 15m See Full Details |
 1852 US Three Cent Piece - Silver US $12.500 Bid 9h 22m See Full Details |
 1852 Three III Cent Silver Good Condition US $11.99 0 Bid 9h 26m See Full Details |
 1858 Three Cent Silver 1270 US $108.0011h 1m See Full Details |
 1852 3c Silver Three Cent Silver AU Details US $145.0011h 33m See Full Details |
 1852 Three Cent Silver Good but damaged US $12.0012h 32m See Full Details |
 antique THREE 3 CENT SILVER coin Star Shield 1853 OLD US $1.842 Bids 13h 42m See Full Details |
 LOW MINTAGE 1857 THREE CENT SILVER 6-17L US $75.0022h 47m See Full Details |
 1852 Three cent silver-bent 6-17a US $19.9922h 59m See Full Details |
 1851 THREE CENT SILVER FINE US $40.000 Bid 1d 3m See Full Details |
Three Cent Nickel 1865-1889
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 1866 THREE-CENT NICKEL Type Real Auction US $.990 Bid 2h 38m See Full Details |
 1865 THREE-CENT NICKEL Type Real Auction US $.990 Bid 2h 48m See Full Details |
 1868 THREE-CENT NICKEL Type Real Auction US $.990 Bid 2h 53m See Full Details |
 1881 US NICKEL THREE CENT PIECE 3C - ODD YEAR - NO RES US $21.516 Bids 3h 7m See Full Details |
 1869 Three Cent Nickel PCGS AU-55 FS-302 Bold RPD US $199.993h 11m See Full Details |
 1865 Three Cent Nickel XF US $3.254 Bids 3h 27m See Full Details |
 1866 3 Cent Piece Nickel Choice AU Three Cent Nickel US $60.003h 41m See Full Details |
 AU - 1881 - THREE CENT NICKEL ---- super nice coin US $21.498 Bids 3h 50m See Full Details |
 1868 Three Cent Nickel lot8775 US $16.003h 51m See Full Details |
 1865 Three Cent Nickel lot8777 US $18.003h 56m See Full Details |
 1866 P VG Nickel Three Cent Piece US Coin US $21.063h 58m See Full Details |
 1881 3 Cent Piece Nickel AU Three Cent Nickel AU US $62.004h 28m See Full Details |
 1866 Three Cent Nickel VF US $17.005h 16m See Full Details |
 1868 THREE CENT NICKEL US $5.990 Bid 8h 15m See Full Details |
 1873 NICKEL THREE CENT PIECE XF WELL STRUCK US $28.009 Bids 8h 23m See Full Details |