Beautiful
1854 Indian Princess $3 Gold PCGS MS66+ - $35,950. Click on Coin Image to
enlarge
Gem
Satin Surfaces. 1st year of issue. In it's population
report, this is the only MS66+ specimen that has been
graded. Crisp strike, sharply lustrous, beautiful representation
of this highly collected area of United States gold
coins. This coin also has a kind of "crispy"
luster along with remarkably clean fields for the grade,
very 67-like. As can be expected for the grade, the
luster is full on both sides, which adds to the effect
of both sides to the eye. In all, this coin is a great
first year of issue, and an excellent representative
in a high-end type set of 19th century American coinage.
Please contact
me by email
or telephone 1-941-291-2156
to reserve this great coin.
Pieces such as this
one are always in demand, and showcase a denomination
which was only used for a few years, after which most
issues became solely struck for collectors of the time
without seeing circulation. The 3-cent rate of the United
States postal system in the mid 1850s led to the introduction
of this denomination, which was to facilitate the buying
of sheets of hundred stamps. Stamps were first introduced
in the United States in 1847, following a number of
countries beginning with the United Kingdom in 1840.
By 1854, it saw widespread use trough out the country,
and many people were familiar with the small pieces
of paper.
The introduction of
the three dollar gold piece was a direct result of the
introduction of postage stamps seventeen years earlier.
It was designed by James Barton Longacre, who designed
the majority of mid 19th century coinage of the United
States. The denomination would be struck until 1889,
when postage rates rose, but soon after its introduction
circulation ceased, except in the western-most parts,
in particular in California. As a result, a whole generation
would grow up while this unusual denomination was still
being struck, but most never saw one in hand.
