The Three Cent piece was designed by James B. Longacre. Three Cent pieces were struck in two series, the Three Cent Silver, struck from 1851 through 1873, and the Three Cent Nickel struck from 1865-1889. The Three Cent Silver was the smallest silver United States coin authorized by Congress on March 3, 1851. The Three Cent Silver was composed of .750 Silver and .250 copper. The Three Cent Nickel was created to take the place of the silver version. The Three Cent Nickel is composed of .750 copper and .250 Nickel. All of the Three Cent Nickels were coined at the Philadelphia Mint.