Early U.S. Type Coin: 1853 Three-Cent Piece

When I started collecting coins I discovered the existence of early U.S. coins and how they differ from what we use today. (I guess I just assumed we always used the same old coins.) As I continually learn about these coins a whole new facet of U.S. history has opened for me. (It's fun to watch movies about our early days to see if they're using time appropriate coins. )

This is a lower-grade 1853 U.S. Three-Cent piece. They were issued from 1851-1873. It is 75% silver and 25% copper. Since there were no lines bordering the star (at least through the 1853 issues) it tended to wear quickly. These coins were popular for their silver content but unpopular for their tiny size: 14mm in diameter. (A dime is 17.9 mm in diameter. )