Numismatic

1856 $1 Indian Head Gold Dollar Type 3 Upright 5 AU

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The year 1856 marked an important moment in the evolution of United States coinage with the production of the Type 3 gold dollar. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this tiny treasure contains 0.048375 troy ounces of gold, composed of a 0.900 fine gold alloy. Today, surviving specimens are highly prized, particularly because vast numbers of these early gold issues were melted down in subsequent decades, making any surviving example in Almost Uncirculated condition a remarkable survivor of American monetary history. The obverse of this one-dollar coin features a distinct profile of Liberty facing left. Rather than her traditional classical crown, she wears a stylized Native American feathered headdress, surrounded by the bold inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". This design represents a fascinating departure from traditional European-style allegorical figures of the era. On the reverse, a delicate wreath frames the denomination and the date. This specific variety is known as the "Upright 5" due to the vertical alignment of the third digit in the 1856 date. The inscription "1 DOLLAR" sits proudly at the center of the wreath, symbolizing a period when gold circulated actively in the daily commerce of a growing nation.