1855-S Three Dollar Gold - 1855-S $3 NGC AU53. Here is an original, clean, for the grade, Western branch mint 1855-S Three Dollar Gold Piece. The coin shows just a touch of even wear on the high points of the design. The piece was well struck as indicated by the ends of the feathers, the letters of the denomination, the central numerals of the date, and the wreath details. Muted, original mint luster remains within protected areas of the design.

James Longacre designed the three dollar gold coin using the Indian Princess for his main device. He had to create a motif that would be distinctly different from the quarter and half eagle coronet designs. The design, similar to his gold dollar Large Head, shows a head of Liberty facing left in profile wearing a stylized headdress. Inscribed on the headband is LIBERTY. She is surrounded by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. In using the Indian Princess design, Longacre felt that he was creating something that was uniquely American rather than an adoption from the classics. The reverse of the piece shows an open wreath of corn, cotton, wheat, and tobacco tied at the bottom with a bow. The denomination 3 appears at the top center of the wreath, with DOLLARS and the date below within the wreath. Longacre liked the wreath design so much that he adopted it for use on the small cent of 1856.

In 1851 a law was passed that authorized a three-cent piece and also made the postage rate three cents. Two years later a new law was passed authorizing a light weight silver three-cent coin and a three-dollar gold coin. Evidently lawmakers believed that the gold coin would be useful to buy rolls of three-cent coins and sheets of stamps. Its closeness to the quarter eagle, which was widely used, made the denomination somewhat illogical, and the public proved indifferent to them.

In 1844 Longacre was appointed Mint Engraver through the influence of Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina. After overcoming opposition by the Chief Coiner, Franklin Peale, who was fearful that the new Engraver would interfere with his illegal medal manufacturing business using the Mint facilities, Longacre did well. He was responsible for creating many new designs including the Indian Head cent, the two-cent piece, the Shield nickel, the Liberty Head gold dollar, the Indian Princess gold dollar, the three-dollar gold piece, and the Liberty Head double eagle. 

The 1855-S Three Dollar Gold Piece is a low mintage issue for which there was little demand when first issued. With few Mint State piece saved, attractive Almost Uncirculated pieces are desirable. In its population report, NGC shows 16 in AU53 condition with 28 better.