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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 1862 SILVER THREE CENT VERY NICE  US $85.00 6h 5m See Full Details |
 1852 SILVER THREE-CENT COIN US $19.950 Bid 8h 3m See Full Details |
 41851-O Three Cent Silver Piece US $58.776 Bids 9h 15m See Full Details |
 1852 Silver Three Cent Piece Nice US $12.057 Bids 10h 5m See Full Details |
 1861 Three-Cent 3-Cent Silver Uncirculated UNC US $175.0012h 11m See Full Details |
 1858 THREE CENT SILVER PIECETRIMES US $.990 Bid 13h 1m See Full Details |
 DOCS BEAUTIFUL THREE CENT SILVER 1852 NICE COIN NR US $20.508 Bids 13h 15m See Full Details |
 1858 TYPE 2 THREE CENT SILVER TRIMETONED AU ALMOST UNC US $169.9513h 30m See Full Details |
 1852 SILVER THREE CENT PIECE US $6.026 Bids 13h 32m See Full Details |
 1853 US Silver Three Cent Piece US $5.005 Bids 13h 37m See Full Details |
 1857 SILVER THREE CENT PIECE US $4.143 Bids 13h 41m See Full Details |
 1852 Three Cent Silver CHOICE AU US $58.5515 Bids 14h 12m See Full Details |
 1856 Three Cent Silver Nice FREE S-H US $65.0014h 17m See Full Details |
 WELL CIRCULATED 1852 Three cent silver 2-11e US $9.5015h 7m See Full Details |
 1856 3c Trime Three Cent Piece Silver Old US Coin US $1.352 Bids 15h 24m See Full Details |
Three Cent Nickel 1865-1889
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 1870 NICKEL THREE-CENT PIECE UNC US $79.991 Bid 2h 59m See Full Details |
 Antique 1867 US 3 Cent Nickel Coin Three Cent Piece US $6.951 Bid 3h 12m See Full Details |
 1866 Three Cent Nickel US $13.505 Bids 7h 11m See Full Details |
 1868 Three Cent Nickel Post Civil War Almost UNC US $78.007h 39m See Full Details |
 1889 Three Cent Nickel Low Mintage Key Date AU NICE US $200.007h 48m See Full Details |
 1869 Three 3 Cent Nickel FS-3N-1869-302 Repunched Date US $155.007h 54m See Full Details |
 1888 THREE CENT NICKEL NGC PROOF 65 GEM US $595.008h 4m See Full Details |
 1865 THREE-CENT NICKEL US $14.950 Bid 8h 5m See Full Details |
 1865 THREE CENT NICKELNO RESERVE US $8.507 Bids 8h 16m See Full Details |
 OLD 1865 THREE CENT NICKEL NICE WITH WEAR A US $7.553 Bids 8h 24m See Full Details |
 BETTER GRADE 1865 THREE CENT NICKEL VERY NICE B US $5.504 Bids 8h 26m See Full Details |
 C-USA 1865 Nickel Three Cent VF US $22.009h 26m See Full Details |
 1888 Three Cent Nickel RARE 36000 MINTED CHOICE VF US $149.999h 44m See Full Details |
 1874 3CN 3C THREE 3 CENT NICKEL PCGS MS65 GREAT COIN US $1,350.0010h 15m See Full Details |
 US Coins 1873 Three Cent Nickel US $13.000 Bid 11h 45m See Full Details |