Remembering History: Called a trime in some Treasury Department records, the three cent silver coin was the smallest ever issued by the U.S. in terms of weight and thickness. Initially proposed in 1849, and again in 1850 in conjunction with a plan to reduce postal rates from five to three cents, production was finally authorized in 1851.

Called a trime in some Treasury Department records, the three cent silver coin was the smallest ever issued by the U.S. in terms of weight and thickness. Initially proposed in 1849, and again in 1850 in conjunction with a plan to reduce postal rates from five to three cents, production was finally authorized in 1851.

Called a trime in some Treasury Department records, the three cent silver coin was the smallest ever issued by the U.S. in terms of weight and thickness. Initially proposed in 1849, and again in 1850 in conjunction with a plan to reduce postal rates from five to three cents, production was finally authorized in 1851.