US Three Cent Silver

About US Three Cent Silver

Also called the trime. The smallest US silver coin ever minted, weighing only 0.8 grams. Designed to make purchasing postage stamps easier when the rate was 3 cents. The coin was so small it was easily lost. The Type 1 had no stars on the obverse while Types 2 and 3 were slightly larger. Discontinued in 1873. The three cent nickel was introduced in 1865 as a more practical alternative.