Three
Cent Coin
In 1845, Congress authorized the first U.S. postage stamps and
set the price at five cents each. Six years later, the postage
rate was reduced to three cents per letter. Since the large
cent coins that were in circulation then were fat and heavy,
people hated to carry them around. A New York Senator, named
Daniel S. Dickinson asked Congress to authorize a 3 cent coin,
thinking that this would make it easier for people to buy stamps.
They would only have to carry one coin if they wanted to buy
a stamp.
