1863 Gold Dollar (1863 Gold $1) NGC MS64. This nearly gem Civil War 1863 Gold Dollar has subdued mint luster within its devices. A couple of trivial marks on Libertys cheek and in the fields keep this coin from the gem category. The strike is sharp especially on the ends of the feathers, Libertys hair, the leaves, knot, and cotton bolls. Clash marks are seen on both sides of the coin, which was struck from rotated dies. Neither the rotation nor the clash marks detract from the coins grade or value.

James Longacre created the Indian Princess motif in1854. It consisted of a truncated portrait of a Caucasian Liberty facing left wearing a stylized headdress inscribed LIBERTY. She is surrounded by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The reverse shows an open, elaborate wreath of corn, cotton, maple, and tobacco with the numeral 1 in the top center. Below it is DOLLAR followed by the date. Unfortunately, the first version of these pieces did not strike well because the obverse portrait was in high relief, and there wasnt enough of a metal flow to fill the dies on both sides. Longacre had underestimated the power of the coining presses in use at the time. This problem was much more evident on the branch mint presses, which were much older than those in use at Philadelphia. Since the proofs that were made in Philadelphia did not show this weakness, Longacre was unable to anticipate this situation. As a result of the central weakness, the hair or the date was blurry or illegible. Most coins wore down quickly and were sent back to the mint to be recoined.

Two years later a new type was coined in the hopes that these striking problems could be alleviated with a design change. The new coin retained the same diameter, and the obverse relief was lowered. In addition, the portrait was modified so the relief areas were not opposite. The solution that Longacre chose was to adapt the design of the three dollar gold piece. The words of the legend were placed nearer the border. The head was placed farther from the letters, and the feathers shapes, sizes, and locations also changed. The new design modifications were successful and the coin remained in use until 1889.

The dollar coin was part of Alexander Hamiltons original plan for the nations coinage; however, there was none until 1830s, when Christopher Bechtler, a private minter, began to coin dollars and other denominations in gold. The coins were variable in fineness and frequently counterfeited. In 1844 a bill was introduced in congress to make gold dollars. Mint Director Robert Patterson was opposed. Notwithstanding Pattersons objection, Longacre made the dies for the gold dollar and production began on May 8th of both business strikes and proofs.

The 1863 gold dollar had an original mintage of 6,200. In its population report, NGC has certified 10 in MS64 with 2 better.