Lot 833
GEM PROOF 1860 $3 GOLD. PCGS graded Proof 64. The mirror fields possess a gentle gold tone with hints of original copper colors starting to settle in. Naturally, the strike is superb, with every detail full and complete. As to the mintage, it was pretty small, only 119 were coined in Proof. Of those, many were spent or otherwise mishandled. Few escaped in decent condition, PCGS has only graded 7 this high, with just 2 graded higher according to their July 2000 Population Report. We note a small planchet void below the N of UNITED, and a couple of minor tick marks nest in that area. Certainly one of the finest to survive from the meager mintage, and well worth a careful look to determine a proper bid.
Proof gold coinage has always been one of the most elite collections undertaken by serious numismatists. Coins are seldom available, and mintage were tiny, so "selection" is a word that is rarely used when purchasing a date for a collection. It may be years before another example is offered of a particular date and denomination, and the grades are as random as the coins. Many of the Proof gold coins we see are from prominent collections, which often trace to other prominent collections, and the same coins go from collector to collector through the decades. Therefore, when a splendid near-gem proof 1860 $3 gold piece appears, we want everyone to wake up and take notice, for this opportunity may not soon be repeated.
Estimated Value $14,000 - 16,000.
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| Realized $15,525 |
