1871 $3, PL MS(PCGS#87993)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auktionator

Stack's Bowers

Losnummer

3258

Erhaltungsgrad

MS63PL

Preis

28.800

Losbeschreibung

This is the Jerome Kern specimen, off the market as part of the Floyd T. Starr Collection since acquired by Mr. Starr from B. Max Mehl's famous Golden Jubilee Sale of May 1950. Mehl described the coin, in part, as:<p><em>1871 <strong>Perfect brilliant proof.</strong> Only 1330 minted in all, of which number only thirty were struck in proof and probably about one half of that number exist today. Rare and valuable.</em><p>Die diagnostics aside, the coin is certainly deeply prooflike in finish, as noted by PCGS, with appreciably mirrored fields supporting frosty design elements. On the other hand, the latter simply lack the overall crispness that one would expect for a Proof of this issue, with areas of softness most prominent at the top of Liberty's headdress and at the base of the wreath, denticulation also not universally crisp around both sides. The dies do not match those of the Proofs, of course, and among other diagnostics the parallel spikes protruding from the lowest wave of hair at the back of Liberty's neck are not present. John W. Dannreuther (2018) also states:<p><em>The circulation issues have the date very low and very slightly further to the right than found on the Proofs. The low circulation strike mintage resulted in many prooflike coins, so the date position is paramount in determining striking format.</em><p>One of several examples in the Starr Collection of a coin honestly sold and trustingly acquired as a Proof in an era before numismatists fully understood the striking quality and die diagnostics required to identify the various issues in the classic U.S. Mint gold series.<p>This is still a highlight and leading rarity of the present three-dollar set, for the 1871 is a very rare date in both Proof and circulation strike formats. In addition to the 30 Proofs reported by Mehl (delivered February 20), the Mint delivered just 1,300 circulation strikes. In the years immediately following the Civil War, the currency known as "greenbacks" (green ink was used for this modern paper money during the Civil War) were plentiful in circulation in the East and Midwest while gold and silver coins were not. By 1871, this situation had not yet been resolved and gold coinage from the Philadelphia Mint remained minimal. Of course, the continued unpopularity of this denomination also explains the paltry circulation strike mintage of the 1871 $3. Fewer than 300 are extant, of which only 50 or so are Mint State. Although a tad hazy with remnants of a fingerprint and a few wispy handling marks serving to limit the grade, this remains a handsome piece. The warm rose-gold color and aforementioned field-to-device contrast provide superior eye appeal for the grade, and the undeniable rarity of both the date and issue will certainly result in strong interest from advanced three-dollar gold enthusiasts.