Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 31

Pre-Long Beach Coin Auction

$3 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 840		1854 $3 Gold. NGC graded AU-53. This is the only New Orleans Mint $3 gold coin and popular as such. Breen-6349, the variety with weak letters, date and mintmark. Also typical for the variety, on the truncation, only the upper half of the initials JBL (John B Longacre, the designer and engraver) show. On the obverse, the Princess is well defined as is the wreath on the reverse. Pop 79, with 164 finer. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,060
Lot 841		1854-O $3 Gold. SEGS graded MS-61. A flashy example of the only New Orleans Mint $3. A better than average strike with plenty of luster present. A few too many light handling marks for us to grade this better than AU-55, nevertheless, a very desirable and choice high grade example of this issue (PCGS # 7971) . Estimated Value $8,000 - 8,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 842		1854-O $3 Gold. NGC graded AU-53. A second example of the only New Orleans Mint $3 gold coin and quite popular with collectors of the series. Breen-6349, the variety with weak letters, date and mintmark. Also typical for the variety, on the truncation, only the upper half of the initials JBL (John B Longacre, the designer and engraver) show. There is a bit of softness of strike on the hair, but the wreath is well defined. Pop 79, with 164 finer. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,060
Lot 843		1855 $3 Gold. SEGS graded MS-65. Quite lustrous with a mix of satiny and frosty mint surfaces. An exceptional quality example of a coin, despite its moderate mintage, that rarely appears on the market in strictly Mint State grade. Some trivial marks are scattered about thus our grade is MS-64 (PCGS # 7972) . Estimated Value $7,500 - 8,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 844		1866 $3 Gold. NGC graded EF-45. A decent EF specimen with the wear evenly distributed and free from serious marks and nicks. Lightly toned with a dark tone spot at the obverse at 5 o'clock. Rare low mintage date as only 4000 were struck for circulation (PCGS # 7987) . Estimated Value $750 - 850. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,380
Lot 845		1867 $3 Gold. NGC graded AU-58. A highly lustrous, well struck specimen with some handling marks in the unprotected areas. A rare and much sought-after business strike issue as a mere 2600 were coined for usage and an additional 50 in proof. A wonderful opportunity for the $3 gold specialist and/or connoisseur of low mintage undervalued coins. NGC reports 30 at this level with 18 better (PCGS # 8030) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,990
Lot 846		1869 $3 Gold. PCGS graded Proof 61. A toned proof example exhibiting rich orange, lilac and golden sunset colors. Some trivial light handling marks are present but these are well concealed by the deep toning. A rare date as only 2500 were made for circulation and only 25 proofs struck. In an old green label holder. PCGS reports 1 in this grade with 3 in PR-64 and 2 in PR-65 (PCGS # 8032) . Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $8,941
Lot 847		1873 $3 Gold. Closed 3. NGC graded MS-61. A blazing prooflike specimen, boldly struck and intensely lustrous. From the normal dies, not deeply dished (usually referred to as restrikes). Although the actual mintage figure is not known, as a date it stands tall and proud as one of the great rareties in the $3 series, being third in line after the 1875 (just 20 struck) and the 1876 (45 struck). The late Walter Breen comments: "most survivors are VF to EF none seen Uncirculated. Proofs are very rare". The appearance of this date at auction is always an important occasion, and the offering of a strictly Mint State specimen is all the more remarkable. NGC reports only 3 in this grade with 1 in MS-62 and 2 in MS-64. Even these minuscule numbers could be a bit inflated (PCGS # 7995) . Estimated Value $20,000 - 23,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $27,600
Lot 848		1878 $3 Gold. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. An excellent strike and wonderful original color call our attention to this very choice specimen. Blazing original frosty luster is heightened by light pink with some deeper orangy coloring on reverse. Contact marks are small and seem only to emphasize the overall freshness of the coin. The denomination numeral 3 on the reverse has been recut and adds additional interest. An Indian Princess you will be proud to call your own! (PCGS # 8000) . Estimated Value $8,000 - 8,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $7,763