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The U.S. 3c wasn't truly a 'threepence', as the U.S. has never issued a penny.

The United States Mint has, however, produced coinage for several other nations over the years including Threepence, Sixpence, Shillings and Florins for Australia during 1942 and 1943.

Minted at Denver, Colorado

U.S. Half Cent

As you may recall, the British 'LSD' system had 240 pence to a pound sterling. The U.S. system is quasi - decimal.

The United States monetary system and its divisions were laid out in the Mint Act of 1792. Per the Constitution, all accounts of the United States were to be expressed in "Spanish Milled Dollars" as they were the most widely respected currency throughout the Americas and maritime trade.

There was considerable merit seen among the 'age of enlightenment' element in establishing a decimal monetary system, yet there was a need to make convenient change for the Spanish dollar which was divided into eight 'reales' - the fabled 'pieces of eight'. Spanish mints produced subsidiary coins of one, two, and four reales for this purpose which widely circulated in the western hemisphere.

To satisfy the metric desire the act established cents (.01), dimes (.10), dollars (1), and eagles (10). To interchange with Spanish coin there would be half cent (.005), quarter dollar (.25) and half dollar (.50) coins. As the old saying went, "two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar... . The real was commonly referred to as a 'bit' and was equal to twelve and a half cents.

Half dimes (.05), quarter eagles (2.50) and half eagles (5.00) were also included.

Hence, the original coinage of the United States was thus:

Copper

0.005 - Half Cent

0.01 - Cent

Silver

0.05 - Half Dime

0.10 - Dime

0.25 - Quarter Dollar

0.50 - Half Dollar

1.00 - Dollar (also 'Unit')

Gold

2.50 - Quarter Eagle

5.00 - Half Eagle

10.00 - Eagle

The original U.S. three cent was a tiny silver coin derisively known as a 'fishcale' which was introduced through U.S. Post Offices in 1851 as that was then the one ounce postal rate.

The California gold rush brought about the gold dollar and twenty dollar 'double eagle' coins (both 1849) and the short lived, seldom used, three dollar gold (1854).

Spanish coin remained legal tender in the U.S. until passage of the Coinage Act of 1857 which also saw the cent reduced in size and the half cent eliminated as it was no longer necessary to make change of a 'bit'.

The 'Civil War' period brought about bronze cents and two cent coins (1864), three cent and five cent 'nickels' (1865, 1866) as well as the motto, "In God We Trust".

The twenty cent coin of 1875-1878 was a case of political lobbying gone horribly awry - a coin that nobody wanted or needed.

Too easily confused with a quarter dollar, much as the
Susan B. Anthony Dollar of 1979-81 and 1999)

By 1889 several denominations would be dropped, leaving only the bronze cent, five cent nickel, silver dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar as well as gold quarter eagle, half eagle, eagle, and double eagle.

The gold coins would be dropped in 1933 and the last 'silver dollar' was minted for circulation in 1935.

Attempts have been made to re introduce dollar coins to circulation. The 'SBA Dollar' of 1979-81 (and 1999) was a dismal failure as it too closely resembled a 'quarter' and the dollar note remained in production.

'Presidential', 'Sacajawea', and 'Native American' dollar coins have been produced since 2007 but also failed as dollar notes are still in production (at a loss of billions of dollars annually) and the American public is too stubborn to use them.

Presently the coinage commonly circulating in the United States, although all issues from 1792 onward remain legal tender, consists of the cent, five cent ('nickel'), ten cent ('dime'), and twenty five cent ('quarter').

Since 1965, dime through half dollar have been 'clad' coins composed of outer layers of the 75/25 copper nickel alloy (as the five cent 'nickel') bonded to a pure copper core. The Eisehower dollars (1971-1978) and 'SBA' dollars were also CN clad. In mid 1982 the cent was changed from bronze to copper plated zinc. The current 'golden' dollars are a clad coin with outer layers of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel bonded to a pure copper core. Overall they are 88% copper

Half dollar and dollar coins can easily be obtained from banks but are seldom seen in actual use.

There are several other coins minted by the United States for collectors that are not intended for circulation such as commemorative issues and 'bullion coins'.

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Citizen of the Cherokee Nation