Numismatic

1854 $3 Gold Princess MS-61 NGC

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In 1854, the United States Mint introduced a highly unusual denomination: the three-dollar gold piece. Struck in Philadelphia during its very first year of issue, this specific coin has survived the decades in remarkable condition, receiving a Mint State 61 certification. With a composition of 90 percent gold containing just under 0.15 troy ounces of precious metal, it represents a fascinating chapter in American currency experimentation. The coin features the celebrated Princess design series. On the reverse, the denomination and the date are clearly rendered, with the inscription reading "3 DOLLARS 1854" nestled within a wreath. Because it was minted in Philadelphia, it bears no mint mark, distinguishing it from branch mint issues of the same era. Out of an original mintage of 138,618 pieces, surviving specimens in such preserved condition offer a rare, tangible window into mid-nineteenth-century coinage.