Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 47

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

$3 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 4648		1854 $3 Gold. PCGS graded MS-62. Nice golden toning. Old green holder. This is a smoothly lustrous coin whose satin gold features are layered in pleasing mint originality. The fully detailed devices that are free of marks or spotting are knocking on the door of an even higher grade. Extra care taken to strike this $3 gold coin (PCGS # 7969) . Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 4649		1854-D $3 Gold. NGC graded AU-58. Well struck and lightly toned. The $3 gold piece was authorized by the Act of February 21, 1853, a very important piece of legislation from a numismatic viewpoint, an act which also affected the silver coinage, namely the reduction in weight of the half dime, dime, quarter, and half dollar, and the addition of arrows alongside the date to indicate the new standard. Whether or not the $3 denomination was actually necessary or worthwhile has been a matter of debate among numismatists for well over a century. At the time of its introduction, 1854, the $3 had as a close companion-the long established $2.50 quarter eagle. The initial year's production was made at three Mints: Philadelphia and New Orleans contributed the lion's share of the 160,000+ coins minted. Trailing far behind was the Georgia mint at Dahlonega with a paltry 1,120 pieces struck. Although uniformly frosted around and within the devices, the fields are slightly brighter and definitely less worn than a few others that parade around the convention floors as "About Uncirculated." Smooth pale golden color is noted throughout, and a decent lack of marks or hairlines, but given the consistent high quality with the coins from this consignor, that goes without saying. A coin whose beauty surpasses all competitors! Pop 34; 8 finer; 2 in 60; 5 in 61; 1 in 62. (PCGS # 7970) . Historic note: The reverse displays an "agricultural wreath" enclosing 3 DOLLARS and the date with the mintmark D below the ribbon. This wreath was later used on the Flying Eagle cents of 1856-1858. As is demonstrated, the designer of the two coins, James Longacre, liked to copy his own work. Estimated Value $45,000 - 50,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 4650		1856 $3 Gold. NGC graded MS-63 PQ. Old holder. The surfaces are sleek and glowing with a healthy show of gold color. There is no toning. A generous amount of crisp detail for the type shows as well, further enhancing the luster. This includes those areas where the usual weak metal flows occur into the deepest channels of the dies leaving the centers bold. In other words, all devices are sharp to razor-sharp. The government, having gotten off to a good start in 1854 when 160,000+ $3 gold pieces were coined at three mints, quickly discovered there was little demand for an in-between denomination like this and so coinage declined steadily thereafter. In 1856, for example, a mere 26,010 $3 gold pieces were minted at Philadelphia. A bare handful of these remain in Mint condition today after more than a century and a half: Pop 14; 19 finer, 18 in 64, 1 in 65 (PCGS # 7974) . Estimated Value $12,000 - 13,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $18,400
Lot 4651		1856-S $3 Gold. NGC graded EF-40. Lightly toned on both sides with normal wear in the hair at Liberty's brow and on the tops of the leaves in the wreath. Only 34,500 pieces struck. Medium "S" mint mark (PCGS # 7975) . Estimated Value $1,300 - 1,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,610
Lot 4652		1860-S $3 Gold. NGC graded AU-55. Well struck with mint luster still adhering to the devices. Friction on only the high points. Rare low mintage date as only 7,000 were struck. Among San Francisco Mint $3 pieces, there is of course the 1870-S. But collectors don't think much about this coin since there is only one known and its price, whenever it comes up for sale, it out of the reach even of King Midas. Outside of the 1870-S, the 1860-S is in a category all by itself, among the rarest of the rare. Mint records blandly state that 7,000 were struck (from which quantity we know that 2,592 were melted, leaving a net distribution of 4,408). There was no numismatic interest in branch-mint strikes at the time. Accordingly, most are worn coins retrieved at random from circulation. The present About Uncirculated 55 has luster in the protected areas and is in good company with a small select dare we say "elite" group of others, as defined by the following census: Pop 16; 23 finer, 18 in 58, 1 in 60 and 4 in 61 (PCGS # 7981) . Estimated Value $8,500 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 4653		1862 $3 Gold. PCGS graded MS-63. Frosty and nicely toned. Only 5,750 struck. Some marks on the face. With its low mintage, usually only an intermittent circulated 1862 three is to be had. However, there are a few case where in faithful-to-the-standards Mint condition coin turns up for sale. This carefully preserved MS63 has noticeable die striations in the fields, a Mint-made occurrence common to the few know 1862 threes in Uncirculated condition. These striations aid in creating a reflective appearance that is akin to prooflikes, but also blended with mint frost. Unlike several others we have had pass through our sales over the years, this choice coin was struck from unclashed dies, there are no clash marks present. Lastly, the devices show accurate relief from a full blow by the dies. Pop 8; 18 finer; 10 in 64; 5 in 65; 3 in 66. (PCGS # 7983) . Estimated Value $9,000 - 9,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $11,500
Lot 4654		1878 $3 Gold. PCGS graded AU-58. A choice, lustrous example of this unusual $3 denomination (PCGS # 8000) . Estimated Value $1,800 - 1,900. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,070
Lot 4655		1879 $3 Gold. NGC graded MS-63. CAC Approved. Tremendous detail from a very minting, which collectors like better to see than wishy-washy detail as found on some dates in this truncated series; furthermore, the surfaces show nice prooflike reflection with sharp golden frosted hues for the devices. Only 3000 coins struck. The contrast between the two is outstanding! Fortunately for bidders, this coin was struck with the controlled precision you'd expect to see throughout the outer peripheral areas, while thoroughly bold and uncompromised at the portrait and hair, the plumes of the bonnet and all leaves in the Longacre-inspired "wreath of cereals" design on the reverse (PCGS # 8001) . Estimated Value $7,500 - 8,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $8,913
Lot 4656		1881 $3 Gold. NGC graded Proof 65 Cameo. NGC number 1578225-001. A blazing gem. One of a mere 54 Proof $3 gold pieces struck in the year 1881. And what a special coin it is! A flickering cameo-frosted Proof with wonderful eye appeal for the discriminating buyer. The coin includes frosted motifs riding high on deeply swirling reflective mirrors that produce a watery effect collectors find so commendable. A remarkable cameo contrast, indeed! Natural color and no defects or marks of any kind. To find so attractive a coin makes this one extra special for the enthusiast. Pop 9; 3 finer in 66 (PCGS # 88045) . Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $37,950
Lot 4657		1882 $3 Gold. NGC graded Proof 58. Only 76 Proofs struck. Moderate hairlines. A satiny frosted example with field reflectiveness that graces much of the smooth golden surface. Boldly struck as expected, indeed, about much finer detail shows than on the circulation strikes this year. A rare Proof that somehow made it into the channels of commerce for a few short months before being extracted by some far-sighted coin collector. Very scarce. Pop 4; 10 finer (PCGS # 8046) . Estimated Value $3,500 - 3,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,613