The US 1865 Three Cent coin, designed by James B. Longacre, features Liberty wearing a coronet—symbolizing unity after the Civil War. Issued in nickel, the coin replaced silver due to wartime hoarding and the need for small, durable currency. Its creation reflected both economic adaptation and national recovery efforts.
In 1865, the Civil War ended and President Lincoln was assassinated, events that deeply influenced American identity. The US 1865 Three Cent coin, with its strong Liberty image and nickel composition, embodied federal stability and a shift toward more practical coinage in a turbulent political and economic landscape.