1854
Three Dollar Gold - 1889 Three Dollar Gold: Set of Two Three
Dollar Gold
The
numismatic adventure can be enriched by acquiring groups of
coins in meaningful combinations. Sets of coins can run from
two pieces to many. In the areas of rare date and early silver
and gold coins we have established certain sets of special
interest. They include the first and last of an issue, type
sets, design sets, year sets, and those that are joined by
historical events such as the Civil War. The coins of each
set are specially selected for you and your collecting needs.
We are specialists in this
area and will expertly and confidentially help you assemble
a set similar to the one you see below, which is made up of
pieces from the US Rare Coin Investments’ archives.
We will cherry pick through millions of dollars of rare coins
selecting only the finest quality pieces for your collection.
A Set of First and
Last Three Dollar Gold, 1854 and 1889
James B. Longacre designed
the three dollar gold coin. It was issued from 1854 to 1889.
The design is similar to the Type 3 gold dollar Indian Princess.
Yet the Large Head gold dollar was not put into use until
1856, two years later. In 1854, the Small Head was in use,
and it produced unsatisfactory results. Evidently Longacre
realized in the first year that his Type 2 design for the
gold dollar could be improved. The three dollar gold coin
using a design similar to the Type 3 dollar proves this
case.
Like the Type 3 gold dollar,
the three dollar coin’s design shows a truncated portrait
of Liberty facing left wearing a stylized headdress inscribed
LIBERTY. She is surrounded by the words UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA. In using the Indian Princess motif, Longacre felt
that he was designing something that was uniquely American
rather than an adoption from the classics. The reverse shows
an open, elaborate wreath of corn, cotton, maple, and tobacco
with the numeral 3 in the top center. Below it is DOLLARS
followed by the date.
It is unclear why this odd
denomination was created. Some believe that it was made
to facilitate the purchase a sheet of 100 three cent stamps
or 100 silver trimes. However, aside from two or three years,
the mintages after 1859 were about 7,000 and less. Eleven
of the years had mintages of 2,000 or less. Evidently the
public was really indifferent to this denomination, and
the Mint’s production reflected this attitude.
1854
Three Dollar Gold - The mintage of
138,618 for the first year, was the highest of the
series. Many were saved and are available in Uncirculated
condition.
This near-Gem 1854 three dollar gold
piece has a sharp strike and full mint luster. Full
details are on the tips of the feathers in the headdress,
the hair below the LIBERTY band, the central numerals
of the date, and the ribbon knot. Just a few very
light abrasion marks keep this coin from a Gem grade.
The surfaces are original and clean with no individual
distractions of note.
1889
Three Dollar Gold - The last year
of issue, 1889, saw a low mintage of 2,300 pieces;
however, many were saved with the increasing popularity
of coin collecting in the United States. In addition
to the gold piece, the other odd denomination to be
phased out this year was the three cent nickel.
This mint state, lustrous 1889 Three
Dollar Gold Coin could have been graded a gem. There
are a couple of microscopic obverse specks and a slight
patina in the fields on both sides that may be the
reason for the grade assigned. The strike is strong
on both sides, which is unusual for coins of this
type. Clash marks are present on both the obverse
and reverse, which are typical for this denomination.
These do not detract from the grade. The coin is also
struck from dies that were slightly rotated. This
is a minting error that is not noted on the NGC label.
