Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature US Coin Sale 1258 2-6 Aug 2017
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Three Dollar Gold Pieces
1854-O $3 MS62 NGC. Variety 2. Three dollar gold pieces were struck for the first time in 1854 and the New Orleans Mint produced a total of 24,000 examples of this odd denomination that year. It was a small mintage in absolute terms, but fairly substantial in the context of the series. The coins were released into circulation at the time of issue and circulated widely, both in domestic circles and international trade. Although the denomination was never really useful or popular economically, it enjoyed considerable success with coin collectors during the later part of the 19th century.
Unfortunately, there was little interest in branch mint issues before Augustus Heaton published his landmark treatise on mintmarks in 1893, and most 19th century collectors just updated their collections by purchasing proof specimens from the Philadelphia Mint every year. It is doubtful that even a single specimen of the 1854-O three dollar gold piece was set aside by contemporary collectors. As a result, the 1854-O is seen most often in the VF-XF grade range today. The 1854-O can be easily located at that level, but AU coins are elusive and Mint State examples are very rare.
This attractive MS62 specimen is a Condition Census example with lightly marked yellow-gold surfaces. A linear planchet flaw is evident between the first T in STATES and the headdress. Only one pair of dies was used to strike this issue, but Doug Winter differentiates between the early and late states of the dies in his popular series reference. This coin represents his Variety 2, with the dies lapped after clashing. As a result, some definition is missing in areas like the ribbon bow on the reverse. The lustrous surfaces show much prooflike reflectivity in sheltered areas and the overall presentation is quite pleasing. As the only three dollar gold piece from the New Orleans Mint, the 1854-O is extremely popular with series specialists and branch mint type collector alike. Census: 4 in 62, 1 finer (6/17).
HID02901242017
1854-O $3 MS62 NGC. Variety 2. Three dollar gold pieces were struck for the first time in 1854 and the New Orleans Mint produced a total of 24,000 examples of this odd denomination that year. It was a small mintage in absolute terms, but fairly substantial in the context of the series. The coins were released into circulation at the time of issue and circulated widely, both in domestic circles and international trade. Although the denomination was never really useful or popular economically, it enjoyed considerable success with coin collectors during the later part of the 19th century.
Unfortunately, there was little interest in branch mint issues before Augustus Heaton published his landmark treatise on mintmarks in 1893, and most 19th century collectors just updated their collections by purchasing proof specimens from the Philadelphia Mint every year. It is doubtful that even a single specimen of the 1854-O three dollar gold piece was set aside by contemporary collectors. As a result, the 1854-O is seen most often in the VF-XF grade range today. The 1854-O can be easily located at that level, but AU coins are elusive and Mint State examples are very rare.
This attractive MS62 specimen is a Condition Census example with lightly marked yellow-gold surfaces. A linear planchet flaw is evident between the first T in STATES and the headdress. Only one pair of dies was used to strike this issue, but Doug Winter differentiates between the early and late states of the dies in his popular series reference. This coin represents his Variety 2, with the dies lapped after clashing. As a result, some definition is missing in areas like the ribbon bow on the reverse. The lustrous surfaces show much prooflike reflectivity in sheltered areas and the overall presentation is quite pleasing. As the only three dollar gold piece from the New Orleans Mint, the 1854-O is extremely popular with series specialists and branch mint type collector alike. Census: 4 in 62, 1 finer (6/17).
HID02901242017