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$3 Gold
L
OW
M
INTAGE
P
ROOF
1872 $3 G
OLD
Enlargement
1779
1872
.
NGC graded Proof 64 Cameo.
CAC Approved
.
Only 30 minted. Lovely light gold toning. Same obverse as
1869-71, with the same rust patches below nose and
throat, diagnostic of the Proofs. Reverse Low date to right,
right edge of 2 well to right of left upright of R (unlike busi-
ness strikes). Extra outlines in and partly around 3. Unpol-
ished areas in bows. Dentils joined at right, elsewhere
mostly separated.
Vivid yellow gold color with deeper orange on the frosted
relief plus some rose highlights on both sides. Heavily
reflective fields and equally nicely frosted motifs form a
pleasing Cameo contrast which is noted on the NGC grade
holder. The devices are well struck, as should be expected
from a Proof of the year. We suspect perhaps from 20 to 25
Proofs of the date can still be accounted for today, which
tells us that many, if not all of the Proofs struck in 1872
were distributed that year by the Mint. That aside, the date
is still decidedly rare in Proof, and the present lovely speci-
men is easily equal to the assigned grade. Another prize
within the $3 series.
Pop 7; 3 finer, 2 in 65, 1 in 66
.
(
PCGS # 88035
)
Estimated Value .................................... $29,000 - 30,000
1780
1872
.
NGC graded AU-53
. Light golden toning with reflective
fields. Only 2,000 struck. A lustrous example with a nuance of
pale antique color on both sides, all of which serves to underpin
the careful preservation. Struck from typically sharp dies that
imported a firm image, especially at Liberty’s hair and the
wreath. Only the ribbon bow on the reverse shows any lack of
detail, and this is typical. (
PCGS # 7994
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,700 - 1,800
1781
1873. Closed 3 PCGS graded Genuine AU Details
. Clean-
ing. Only 100 minted. Lightly toned with hairlines visible. Impor-
tant rare date. Mint records if they ever existed, are now
missing on the striking of any 1873 $3 gold pieces for circula-
tion; they report the 25 Proofs (with no special indication as to
the style of the 3). Some put forward mintages from 100 to
1,000 coins, which were struck in 1873, perhaps as late as
1879. The mystery of the 1873 $3 gold pieces will to be solved
until further Treasury Department documentation turns up.
(
PCGS # 7995
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$2,000 - 2,400
1782
1874
.
PCGS graded MS-62
. Lovely golden toning. Only
41,800 struck. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Vivid golden
shades erupt from the select original surfaces untouched by
damaging marks or copper spotting. A strong strike as well,
making this an advantageous coin for the focused collector. Cir-
cumstances with the bloom off the dies being what it is, sharp-
edged devices and lettering throughout add nicely to this MS62
coin’s merit. (
PCGS # 7998
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$2,600 - 2,700
1783
1874 PCGS graded Genuine AU Details
. Cleaning. Only
41,800 minted. Light gold tone. (
PCGS # 7998
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $500 - 550
