Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 1

Coin Auction

$3 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 696		Gold Three Dollar. 1854-D. An unusually well struck example of this famous rarity and completely free from the problems that seem to plague others. Characteristic striking with weak concave dentils at upper obverse and reverse. In demand as the only Dahlonega Three Dollar Gold Coin. Rare in all grades and extremely rare above Extra Fine. Pop. of 6 with only 1 higher. NGC graded AU-58. View details	Realized $36,300
Lot 697		Gold Three Dollar. 1856-S. Light hairlines evident only under strong magnification, all lightly toned. Scarce in high grade as most seen are VF-EF. AU-53. View details	Unsold
Lot 698		Gold Three Dollar. 1857. PCGS graded Proof 64. An incredible specimen of this great rarity, with a pedigree to match. It is believed that only five or six examples exist, of which three have been so graded by PCGS, with only a single coin graded a notch higher. Perhaps this coin has been submitted before and is counted more than once in the Population Report, but we can't be sure. The surfaces have delightful cameo contrast, with deeply frosted devices and reflective mirror fields. In order to properly identify this piece in the future, there is a tiny "S" shaped lint mark below Liberty's lowest curl in the field below the bust, and another lint mark on the reverse through the wreath and left adjacent to the D of DOLLAR. It is currently in PCGS holder #8323931. Most recently, this coin was offered in the Michael Keston Collection as Lot 44, by Superior Stamp & Coin Company, January 30, 1996, prior to that there seems to be a discrepancy. Superior called this coin the Eliasberg coin from the famous 1982 Gold Sale by Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, however, the plate doesn't seem to match to that sale. Furthermore, the Eliasberg coin is later identified as having a lint mark on the chin and another above the 3 on the reverse, neither of which the present coin has. This is not the Trompeter coin either, which has the polished area on Liberty's neck, and a tiny planchet flake near the F of OF on the obverse. Perhaps this is the Jerome Kern, Samuel Wolfson coin, but further research is needed to straighten out the true pedigree chain of the few specimens known. In any event, only a few are known, of which this is certainly one of the two or three finest. Two of the known population are off the market, one in the Smithsonian, and another in the Harry Bass Collection. View details	Unsold
Lot 699		Gold Three Dollar. 1857-S. VF-25. View details	Realized $715
Lot 700		Gold Three Dollar. 1860. Sharpness of EF-45, but repaired at 12 o'clock. A coin that should be inspected. View details	Unsold
Lot 701		Gold Three Dollar. 1864. This example is well struck with mint lustre still evident and some light hairlines comensurate for this grade. Rare low mintage date as only 2680 were coined. EF-45. View details	Realized $990
Lot 702		Gold Three Dollar. 1866. PCGS graded Proof 65. Dazzling coin-gold brilliance, a near faultness gem, as fresh as if it were struck only yesterday, and exhibiting mellow orange-gold color with a light toning spot on Liberty's forehead. The head of Liberty is beautifully frosted, giving the obverse a particularly appealing cameo effect. The reverse exhibits a second 6 heavier than other digits, its upper part filled, the hallmarkof a Proof. Only 30 made: 25 on January 15, 5 more June 8. Possibly 15 to 20 survive. In all, 6 have been graded by NGC and 8 by PCGS with this being the finest graded by either service. View details	Realized $30,800
Lot 703		Gold Three Dollar. 1873. PCGS graded Proof 62. Closed 3. The Trompeter coin. This is the famous 1873 "dished" closed 3. The obverse appears convex, reverse concave, slightly greater diameter than other dates (21 mm versus 20.6 mm standard). Centers weak as always, evidently as struck. Obverse same as used for 1869-72, with the same rust patches. Reverse, closed 3, low date. Left leaf of date represented only by an isolated tip; terminal tassels unusually attenuated. Areas of die polish make ribbon ends appear incomplete. No extra outlines, dentils well apart. The present coin is identifiable by a lint mark right of top of the second S in STATES and a faint hairline from the next towards U of UNITED. The surfaces are highly reflective, while the devices shine with satiny elegance. PCGS has only graded 2 coins this high, with none graded higher. In fact, only 5 of these closed 3s have been graded, all in lower grades of Proof. Actual mintage is unknown, but PCGS speculates that about 100 were struck, although that seems a bit agressive if only 5 have been graded in Proof. One of the classic rarities of the $3 series and worthy of the finest collection. View details	Unsold
Lot 704		Gold Three Dollar. 1873. PCGS graded AU-58. Closed 3. A classic rarity in the series with an estimated mintage of a scant 100 coins. PCGS has only graded 5 in various Mint State grades, the best of which is Mint State 62. The entire mintage was obviously placed in circulation, and most did just that, circulate. 1873 was a difficult year, the economy went through a sharp contraction, known as "hard times" then, in the 1930s as a "depression" and now something everyone from school loves, a "recession" which sounds a lot like "recess". Whatever the name, the causes are the same, money supply contracts, and everyone skimps and tries to save money. Not many people could put away a small fortune like a $3 gold coin, so they were spent. Hence virtually all show varying degrees of wear. This coin, however, is a remarkable exception. It somehow was saved, virtually in Mint condition. The devices are boldly struck, with complete details on Liberty and the delicate wreath on the reverse. Prooflike in the fields as were all, as these dies were used to strike a few Proofs that year. Excellent original orange-gold in color and with only a scattering of tick marks mostly in the fields. A rare coin worthy of a choice collection. View details	Realized $11,000
Lot 705		Gold Three Dollar. 1874. AU-55. Nice color, but there is a rim problem on the reverse near 9 o'clock and some trivial hairlines in the fields. View details	Realized $935
Lot 706		Gold Three Dollar. 1878. An ideal coin for a uncirculated type set. NGC graded MS-62. View details	Realized $2,090
Lot 707		Gold Three Dollar. 1878. AU-50. View details	Realized $880
Lot 708		Gold Three Dollar. 1885. Proof 63. A glittering Proof example with orange-peel effect brilliance contrasted by frosty devices giving this the full cameo effect conveted by collectors. We note some minor contact marks in the unprotected fields. The color is a lovely golden-orange. Coveted low mintage date as a total of 910 coins were minted of which 109 were struck as proofs. View details	Unsold
Lot 709		Gold Three Dollar. 1889. NGC graded MS-66. A splendid frosty mint gem with radiating mint bloom lustre and color. Popular last year of the denomination and an ideal example for a top quality type set. View details	Realized $17,875