1878 Indian Three Dollar Gold

HBCC#:

1017

Breen#:

6390

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

Three-dollar gold coins are one of the least understood of all denominations in American numismatics. With the exception of the unique 1870-S, there are none impossible to collect among circulation strikes, and this denomination is truly collectible, although a healthy budget is necessary. Beginning in 1855, and continuing through 1889, these coins had DOLLARS in larger font size. This 1878-dated-issue is one of the few common-date issues of this denomination. This is the second highest mintage three-dollar gold coin, and yet only 82,304 were struck.

Provenance:

Purchased from Goliad Corporation, October 30, 1972.

Obverse:

As preceding.

Reverse:

As preceding, but DOLLARS is in much larger letters, the style used 1855-1889.

Commentary:

"Obverse: Part of prior punch crossbar below crossbar of (T)A. Reverse: Date canted down to right, low, 8 centered under right foot of A. Lump (prior punch?) at top within lower loop of last 8."