1865 U.S. 3-Cent Coin

During the Civil War, small denomination notes representing sums under $1 were issued to combat the coin shortage due to hoarding. The small slips of paper would become ragged and dirty, and by 1864 the public grew tired of them. Congress agreed to mint a 3-cent piece in copper-nickel alloy in 1865, the 3-cent nickel as it was often referred to. It was well received initially, though its popularity waned with the introduction of the 5-cent nickel the following year, as the larger value better fit the decimal system. The last year of mintage for the "3-cent nickel" was 1889. ¾" diameter.