Numismatic

1854 $3 Gold Princess AU-55 NGC

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In 1854, the United States Mint introduced a unique denomination to the nation's coinage: the three-dollar gold piece. This specific coin, struck in 90 percent pure gold, contains 0.1451 ounces of precious metal. Despite an initial mintage of 138,618 pieces, these coins are far scarcer today than that number suggests. Over the decades, vast quantities of this issue were melted down, significantly reducing the population of surviving specimens and making any remaining example a fascinating survivor of American monetary history. The obverse features an elegant profile of an Indian Princess, her hair styled in tight curls that cascade over the back of her neck. On the reverse, the design centers on the coin's face value and date of production, encircled by a detailed wreath. The inscription reads "3 DOLLARS 1854," presenting a bold and straightforward declaration of its place in the mid nineteenth-century economy.