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Three Dollar Gold Piece
Beautiful, Lustrous 1856-S $3
$3, 1856-S AU-55 (PCGS). Nearly full light yellow gold lustre with sharp definition. Minor abrasions are not unusual for the grade. From a mintage of 34,500 coins, a more generous quantity than the previous year.
Details
$3, 1856-S AU-55 (PCGS). Nearly full light yellow gold lustre with sharp definition. Minor abrasions are not unusual for the grade. From a mintage of 34,500 coins, a more generous quantity than the previous year.
Varieties exist with different mintmark sizes, and in various die states. The existence of examples as part of the S.S. Central America treasure is significant as it reflects that this unusual denomination circulated actively there. Interestingly, after 1862, the West Coast was the only area where three-dollar gold coins circulated. In the East and Midwest such pieces were not seen in commerce after 1861. From that time until December 1878, gold coins were not used except on the West Coast. After 1878, gold again circulated freely throughout the United States, but by this time the $3 coins were no longer used by the public.
Varieties exist with different mintmark sizes, and in various die states. The existence of examples as part of the S.S. Central America treasure is significant as it reflects that this unusual denomination circulated actively there. Interestingly, after 1862, the West Coast was the only area where three-dollar gold coins circulated. In the East and Midwest such pieces were not seen in commerce after 1861. From that time until December 1878, gold coins were not used except on the West Coast. After 1878, gold again circulated freely throughout the United States, but by this time the $3 coins were no longer used by the public.
Further details
Just three examples of this denomination from the S.S. Central America treasure have been certified by PCGS. All three are of this date and mintmark combination with this and another equivalent example tied for finest graded.