Numismatic

1865-1889 3 Cent Nickels Culls

During a fascinating period of United States coinage, the Treasury issued an unusual denomination: the three-cent piece. Struck between 1865 and 1889, these coins represent a distinctive era in American monetary history. This specific series, designed by James Longacre, features a composition of base metal rather than the silver used in earlier three-cent issues. The obverse of the coin displays a classic portrait of Lady Liberty. Her head is shown in profile, adorned with a traditional coronet. Surrounding her image is the legend indicating the United States as the issuing nation, alongside the date of minting at the bottom. On the reverse, the coin features its face value represented by the Roman numeral III. This denomination is framed by a stylized wreath, creating a clean and functional design. Each coin in this series is a sovereign issue backed by the United States government, minted at the Philadelphia facility.