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
 RARE 1851 3 THREE CENT SILVER PIECE COIN XF-AU BUY IT NOW MAKE OFFER FREE SHIP $99.95 Time Remaining: 35m Buy It Now for only: $99.95 |
 1853 Three Cent 3c Piece Silver Trime Coin $10.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 59m Buy It Now for only: $17.00 |
 1852 3 THREE CENT SILVER PIECE COIN GOOD BUY IT NOW OR MAKE OFFER FREE SHIPPING $24.95 Time Remaining: 1h 5m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 |
 FREE SHIPPING 1856 3 THREE CENT SILVER PIECE COIN VF DETAILS BUY IT NOW OR OFFER $69.95 Time Remaining: 1h 15m Buy It Now for only: $69.95 |
 FREE SHIPPING 1853 3 THREE CENT SILVER PIECE VF- BUY IT NOW MAKE OFFER $58.95 Time Remaining: 1h 23m Buy It Now for only: $58.95 |
 1853 THREE CENT SILVER, LITE BEND, JC 382 $22.95 Time Remaining: 11h 8m Buy It Now for only: $22.95 |
 1853 Three Cent Silver PCGS AU-55 Nice Original Trime! $219.99 Time Remaining: 14h 8m Buy It Now for only: $219.99 |
 1852 GOOD THREE CENT SILVER ID#C15 $30.00 Time Remaining: 14h 32m Buy It Now for only: $30.00 |
 1853 THREE CENT SILVER - INV # - 5370 $43.00 Time Remaining: 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $43.00 |
 1861 THREE CENT SILVER - INV # - 5653 $127.00 Time Remaining: 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $127.00 |
 1852 THREE CENT SILVER - INV # - 5366 $36.00 Time Remaining: 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $36.00 |
 1852 THREE CENT SILVER - INV # - 5207 $44.00 Time Remaining: 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $44.00 |
 1852 THREE CENT SILVER - INV # - 5367 $43.00 Time Remaining: 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $43.00 |
 1852 THREE CENT SILVER - INV # - 5208 $44.00 Time Remaining: 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $44.00 |
 1852 THREE CENT SILVER - INV # - 5368 $49.00 Time Remaining: 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $49.00 |
Three Cent Nickel 1865-1889
 ***** 1865 Three Cent Piece (Nickel) ***** $12.75 Time Remaining: 46m |
 1865 ERROR Three 3 Cent Nickel 15% OFF CENTER US COIN $475.00 Time Remaining: 53m Buy It Now for only: $475.00 |
 1865 UNITED STATES CIVIL WAR ERA THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $14.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 57m |
 1866 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $10.60 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 57m |
 1867 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $11.70 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 58m |
 1868 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $12.95 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 58m |
 1869 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $5.51 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 58m |
 1870 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $7.51 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 58m |
 1871 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $5.50 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 58m |
 1873 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $19.23 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 58m |
 1874 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $9.38 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 59m |
 1876 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $26.80 (16 Bids) Time Remaining: 59m |
 1881 UNITED STATES THREE CENT NICKEL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $3.55 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 59m |
 1881 Three Cent Nickel US Coins $17.99 Time Remaining: 1h 44m |
 1874 THREE CENT NICKEL VG DETAILS POROUS TT80 $18.00 Time Remaining: 2h 5m Buy It Now for only: $18.00 |