Three-cent bronze
Three-cent bronze was a pattern coin struck in 1863 by George Eckfeldt. The coin shares its obverse design (other than the font of the date, which is smaller and curved), thickness, and diameter with that of the Braided Hair large cent, but was made of bronze rather than pure copper. Weighing 140 grains, it weighed nearly three times that of the bronze Indian Head cent.
Three-cent bronze
United States Mint · Public domain
- Field
- three-cent piece
- Region
- United States
- Related practice
- copper · tin · zinc
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Documentary summary
Three-cent bronze was a pattern coin struck in 1863 by George Eckfeldt. The coin shares its obverse design (other than the font of the date, which is smaller and curved), thickness, and diameter with that of the Braided Hair large cent, but was made of bronze rather than pure copper. Weighing 140 grains, it weighed nearly three times that of the bronze Indian Head cent.
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identity unresolved · checked 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q23680113 · wikipedia · Three-cent bronze
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
About 50 to 60 examples are known. The obverse features an image of Liberty.
• Country — United States • Denomination — Three-cent bronze • Value — 3 cents (0.03 • Unit — US dollars) • Diameter — 28.57 • Edge — Plain • Composition — * 95% copper • 5% tin and zinc • Years Of Minting — 1863 • Catalog Number — Judd-319, Pollock 384 • Obverse — 1863 3C Three Cents, Judd-319 Restrike, Pollock-384, R.5.jpg • Obverse Design — Liberty with braided hair • Obverse Designer — Christian Gobrecht • Obverse Design Date — 1863 • Reverse — 1863 3C Three Cents, Judd-319 Restrike, Pollock-384, R.5 rev.jpg • Reverse Design — Denomination surrounded by a wreath • Reverse Design Date — 1863 The three-cent bronze was a pattern coin struck in 1863 by George Eckfeldt. The coin shares its obverse design (other than the font of the date, which is smaller and curved), thickness, and diameter with that of the Braided Hair large cent, but was made of bronze rather than pure copper. Weighing 140 grains, it weighed nearly three times that of the bronze Indian Head cent. About 50 to 60 examples are known. The obverse features an image of Liberty.
History
History
Throughout 1863, the coins were struck on planchets of varying thickness. According to Eckfeldt's journal: Struck a few 3 cent pieces of copper & zinc; the size, thickness and diameter about that of the 1857 copper cent. About the middle of 1863.
Other versions
Other versions
An aluminum version (Judd-320, Pollock-385) was made using a very similar design. However, examples are extremely rare with only 5 confirmed.
The obverse of an 1863 three cent piece. This coin is graded and certified by NGC as PR65 Brown.
United States Mint
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- United States
Named but not plotted · 1
Three-cent bronze is associated with United States.
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Three-cent bronze is connected to 1 other published record in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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642 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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