Q.David Bowers
When it was suggested that the B initial be used, Charles Barber, chief engraver at the Mint, complained vociferously about this, for he felt that it might be confused with his own initial, and he was against the Lincoln cent and did not approve of the design.
The government's position was quite inconsistent, for designers' initials had appeared on many other United States coins, including pieces then in circulation. Charles Barber's initial B was prominent on the neck of the dime, quarter, and half dollar of the period; Morgan's initial appeared on the silver dollar he designed; Longacre's initial was on the Indian cent, the initials B.L.P. indicated the designer of the contemporary $21/2 and $5 pieces; and the $20 coin, largest issue of the United States, bore the prominent monogram of Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
Cents were produced without initials until 1918, during which year the V.D.B. letters were added in microscopic form to the obverse.
In 1909 coinage of both varieties, with V.D.B. and without, was accomplished at the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. The 1909-S V.D.B., with a low mintage of just 484,000 pieces, became a rarity. Coinage at Denver commenced in 1911, marking the first minor pieces to be produced by that institution. From then until the present time production has been effected at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints, but not on a continuous basis. Also, in recent years pieces have been struck at West Point, New York, in a provisional coining facility, but as coins minted there bear no distinguishing mintmarks they are indistinguishable from Philadelphia issues.
In 1943 a critical shortage of copper forced the mints to produce cents of zinc-coated steel. From 1944 through 1946 salvaged cartridge cases were melted down and used for cent production. In 1947 the standard bronze alloy was resumed. During the earlier years of Lincoln cent coinage a number of scarce issues were minted, including the aforementioned 1909-S V.D.B. as well as the 1914-D and 1931-S. No cents were struck at Philadelphia in 1922. Certain 1922-D (Denver Mint) issues were produced from weak obverse dies with the mintmark indistinct. These captured the fancy of certain collectors who likened them to the Philadelphia Mint (without mintmark) issues and accordingly expressed a willingness to pay high figures for them.
In 1955 a curious variety was produced from a defective die which had the date and letters on the obverse sharply doubled. In 1972 this type of error was repeated, although the doubling was not as sharp.
In 1959 a new reverse was adopted for the Lincoln cent. Designed by Frank Gasparro, the motif featured the Lincoln Memorial. In 1962 the cent alloy was changed to 95% copper and 5% zinc. Despite the negligible purchasing power of the one-cent piece, which declined in worth as inflation increased during the 1970s, mintages soared to record levels. The use of the small coin to make change in transactions involving sales tax furnished the explanation.
Two-Cent Pieces (1864-1873)
In 1863 Director of the Mint James Pollock urged the coinage of a two-cent piece, believing that it would be a great convenience for the public. At the time cents were scarce in circulation, and countless Civil War tokens, mostly bronze, were seen in everyday change. Silver coins, following the suspension of specie payments, did not circulate, so it was believed that a bronze two-cent piece, which presumably would not be hoarded, would be of great public utility.
Numerous patterns were made for the proposed two-cent pieces, including several varieties featuring the bust of George Washington surrounded by the legend GOD AND OUR COUNTRY. As part of the Mint Act of April 22, 1864, a design by James B. Longacre featuring an obverse with a heraldic shield and arrows and a reverse with wreath of wheat was adopted. On the obverse appeared IN GOD WE TRUST on a ribbon, the first use of this motto on a coin made for circulation.
In 1864 nearly 20 million pieces were struck. A relatively small number of these had the motto in small letters, the so-called small motto variety. In 1865 coinage declined to less than 14 million. In 1866 it fell precipitously to just slightly more than 3 million. Year by year the total diminished. In 1872 just 65,000 were struck. By that time the coin had become a nuisance in circulation. Shopkeepers did not care for the odd denomination, and they found little favor with the public at large. In 1873, the last year of coinage, no pieces were made for circulation. Striking was limited to a relatively small number of Proofs for inclusion in collectors' sets.
Nickel Three-Cent Pieces (1865-1889)
The three-cent piece composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, but of a silvery appearance, was authorized by the Act of March 3, 1865. It was designed to take the place of silver-alloy three-cent pieces (made since 1851, but in greatly reduced numbers after 1862) and to provide an alternative to the three-cent paper fractional currency notes. The design, featuring a Liberty head with a tiara on the obverse and the Roman numeral III within a wreath on the reverse, was the work of James B. Longacre.
The first year, 1865, saw a mintage of over 11 million pieces, a figure more than double the next highest mintage year, 1866. The coin did not prove as popular as had been hoped, and the mintage figures trended downward. By 1876 interest had dropped to the point at which just 162,000 pieces were made that year. No coins were struck for circulation in 1877 and 1878, although a limited number of Proofs were made for collectors. In 1879 coinage for circulation resumed, but in limited quantities, for the denomination was unpopular and the Philadelphia Mint was busy coining silver dollars at a record pace. From 1879 until the last year of mintage, 1889, quantities produced were small, An anomaly was 1881, a year in which over a million were made.
With the exception of date changes, all nickel three cent pieces are similar. A variation was provided by the 1887/6 overdate, a coin struck for the most part in Proof grade, although some were issued for circulation.
In 1889 the coinage of nickel three-cent pieces was discontinued. During the same year its larger denomination counterpart, the $3 gold, also met its demise.
Silver Three-Cent Pieces (1851-1873)
In 1849 a three-cent piece was suggested. In that year several patterns were made, two of which combined the obverse of a standard silver half dime with the reverse numeral as 3 and III. Another particularly curious piece was simply a combination of these two numbers, 3 and III, one serving as the obverse and the other as the reverse, thus creating the most simplistic pattern ever produced at the Philadelphia Mint. Actually, the piece was not produced as a pattern but was simply made to illustrate the size of the proposed denomination.
In 1851 additional patterns were made. The obverse depicted a Liberty cap with rays surrounding. The reverse bore an inscription and a palm branch arranged in a circle.
When the silver three-cent piece, or trime as it is sometimes called, was first issued in 1851 it was hoped that it would help with postal transactions, for the letter rate was revised to 3c about that time. Also it was hoped that the pieces would relieve some of the demand for large cents. The initial pieces minted 1851-1853 differed from other silver issues and contained 75% silver and 25% copper. From 1854 to 1873 the alloy was the standard 90% silver and 10% copper.
It has been related that during the first several years of its issue the silver three-cent piece was the main silver coin seen in circulation in the country. The half dimes, dimes, quarters, and half dollars were exported or melted, for the most part (causing the authorized weight to be reduced in 1853). In 1854 the diameter of the silver three-cent piece was broadened to facilitate ease of handling, and the design was changed slightly. Problems developed in striking the coin properly, with the result that in 1859 the design was modified again. As a result, most 1854-1858 silver three-cent pieces seen today are very weakly struck, particularly on the borders.