Lot 1233
1856-S $3 Gold. NGC graded MS-64. In NGC holder 2030743-012. Well struck with fantastic frosty mint surfaces throughout. The "skin" is undistrubed and boasts full mint bloom color. Only 34,500 struck. Remarkable quality as this issue was well circulated and few were saved.
A lustrous "Finest Known" example of this early S-mint date, and a coin that has a great deal of eye appeal. A great deal! Furthermore, it is significantly above-average in terms of sharpness. There is only some lightness in the higher waves of the hair on the obverse and the ribbon bow on the reverse, but virtually all other areas are sharp. The luster conforms exactly with the exacting grade: rich, frosty, and so elusive in this condition. The overall eye-appeal we put as "superb," even though we'd like to restrict that term to Superb-quality only coins, the luster really is virtually three-dimensional, while the coin itself is the finest of its kind.
Philadelphia Mint $3 pieces are rare after 1854. San Francisco coins the stuff of legend. There is no instance in which a numismatist in 1856 could have saved a freshly minted example, and not even the Mint Cabinet acquired mintmarked issues in those days. The policy was to acquire one coin of each date, period. That could be done by obtaining a Proof. Today, 1856-S $3 gold pieces are rarer than anything in Mint condition. Apparently, three came to the surface with the S.S. Central America treasure discovery, two being the Medium S variety seen here. Pop 1; none finer at either service. (PCGS # 7975) .
Die diagnostics: The date is low on the die, at least twice as close to the highest ribbon spot as to the bottom of DOLLARS. The vertical shaft of the 1 is below and slightly to the right of the center of the interior of 0. As on all uses of this logotype, the 6 is bold. The mintmark is the Medium S variety, as usually seen. The letter is slightly differently proportioned than the large S of the 1855-S $3. Its position is beneath the ribbon knot, as always, and is slightly left of center. Late state of the reverse die with some bulging evident at the center, particularly above the denomination; crack or flaw at base of second L (DOLLAR); leaf to left of date partly disconnected. Small curve above S mintmark is probably a clash mark, not a repunching.
Estimated Value $40,000 - 45,000.
Previously from Heritage's January 1998 sale.
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| Realized $43,700 |
