1862 $3 MS(PCGS#7983)

Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Commissaire-priseur

Stack's Bowers

Numéro du lot

2254

Grade

MS63

Prix

17 080

Description du lot

Lustrous surfaces delight the viewer with full mint bloom and rich medium olive-orange gold color. Evidence of die clash is faintly present on the reverse, both sides with light die polish lines (as made) in the semi-reflective fields. Otherwise softly frosted in texture, with a full strike and outstanding eye appeal. The reverse is rotated a few degrees clockwise from normal coin alignment.<p>Nearly 40 years ago, David Akers wrote that, "the 1862 is the most underrated three dollar gold piece in choice uncirculated condition in the 1860's." This statement remains as true today as it did then. Bullion supplies dwindled at the Philadelphia Mint and coins rapidly disappeared from circulation, to be replaced by low denomination "shinplasters." The 5,750 circulation strikes of this denomination produced in 1862 were delivered by the coiner on February 6, the same day then-Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant captured Fort Henry in Western Tennessee, his first major victory of the war (and the first of significance for the struggling Union war effort as a whole). The dies for this issue bear vertical striations on both the obverse and reverse, a diagnostic feature most readily apparent on high grade examples, as here. Between 200 and 250 examples are known in all grades of which perhaps less than 40 may be found in Mint State, and those seldom appear on the market. Gem Mint State specimens are exceedingly rare with this example in MS-63 representing outstanding value for the astute gold collector. If one was to own just a single example of the type, this would certainly be a worthy contender that even the most discriminating numismatist would appreciate. It would certainly stand out in a type set much more than an 1854, 1874 or 1878 for a collector's three-dollar gold coin.