1881 Indian Three-dollar Gold

HBCC#:

4036

Breen#:

6394

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This piece is an exceptional “gem” quality Proof example-one of the finest known from a mintage of 54 such coins. Possibly half the Proof mintage exists today. Just 500 circulation strikes were produced, ranking this issue among the rarest of the series. Aside from the unique 1870-S issue, this has the lowest overall recorded mintage of any three-dollar gold coin intended for circulation. The only possible contender is 1873, with the total mintage not recorded by Mint officials. Otherwise, 1875 and 1876 have lower mintages although they were only struck in Proof format.

Provenance:

From Stack's sale of the Theodore Ullmer Collection, May 1974, Lot 426.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

(adapted): "Obverse: Half of J.B.L. visible. Mirrored pools below ear and to left of bottom curls. Reverse: Date level, just a bit low. Top of last 1 bit to right of being centered under right foot of A."