1856 $3, CAM PR(PCGS#88019)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

3246

Grade

PR64CAM

Price

174,000

Lot Description

The counterpart to the Floyd T. Starr Proof 1855 $3 offered in the previous lot, the 1856 is also one of the rarest Proofs in this series, and the only other Proof three-dollar gold issue not represented in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution. This is the Jacob Shapiro coin, acquired by Mr. Starr out of our (Stack's) December 1944 sale of the so-called J.F. Bell Collection. Since the coin has been off the market for the last 81 years, it is easy to forgive John W. Dannreuther's statement in 2018 that, "The Bell I coin is likely one of the above." Thanks to this remarkable offering of the Floyd T. Starr Collection, we now know that the Shapiro/Bell coin is distinct from the six Proof 1856 threes whose provenances are given definitively in the 2018 Dannreuther census. With at least six known, the mintage for this issue may be as high as 10 Proofs, although Dannreuther's observation that, "Some estimates that a dozen coins exist clearly are wrong" is still accurate.<p>The 1856 vies with the 1857 as the second-rarest issue in the Proof three-dollar gold series. An updated census for the Proof 1856 reads as follows:<p>1 - <strong>PCGS/CAC Proof-65+ Deep Cameo.</strong> Ex T. Harrison Garrett, to Robert and John Work Garrett, by descent, 1888; Robert Garrett interest to John Work Garrett, 1919, transfer completed 1921; John Work Garrett to The Johns Hopkins University, by gift, 1942; our (Stack's) sale of the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, March 1976, lot 394; Superior's Connoisseur's Collection sale, January 1989, lot 338; Superior's Jascha Heifetz Collection sale, October 1989, lot 4242; Superior's Father Flanagan's Boys Home Sale, May 1990, lot 5506; Superior's sale of the Michael I. Keston Collection, January 1996, lot 40; our (Bowers and Merena's) Rarities Sale of July 2002, lot 754; Tom Bender Collection; Heritage's sale of the Bender Family Collection, Part II, January 2023 FUN Signature Auction, lot 3397.<p>2 - <strong>PCGS/CAC Proof-64+ Deep Cameo.</strong> Ex Dewitt Smith; Virgil Brand (Brand journal #46912); Armin Brand; F.C.C. Boyd, via June 13, 1940 Burdette G. Johnson consignment invoice; Numismatic Gallery's sale of the "World's Greatest Collection" (Boyd), January 1946, lot 271; Abe Kosoff, August 3, 1971; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection; Heritage's sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection Part III, May 2023 CSNS Signature Auction, lot 4518.<p>3 - <strong>PCGS Proof-64 Cameo.</strong> Ex Jacob Shapiro; our (Stack's) sale of the J.F. Bell Collection (Shapiro), December 1944, lot 270; Floyd T. Starr Collection. <em><strong>The present example</strong></em>.<p>4 - <strong>PCGS/CAC Proof-62 Cameo.</strong> Ex Ed Trompeter; Superior's sale of the Ed Trompeter Collection, February 1992, lot 98; Heritage's ANA National Money Show Signature Auction of March 2011, lot 4729; our Philadelphia ANA Auction of August 2012, lot 11671; Heritage's sale of the Fenn Family Collection, Part III, January 2017 FUN Signature Auction, lot 5832; D.L. Hansen Collection.<p>5 - <strong>PCGS Proof-62</strong>. Ex our (Bowers and Merena's) Commodore Matthew C. Perry Collection sale, January 1995, lot 1177; Heritage's Long Beach Signature Auction of February 2023, lot 3801.<p>6 - <strong>NGC Proof-62.</strong> Ex Numismatic Gallery's Adolphe Menjou Collection sale, June 1950, lot 1374; John Jay Pittman; David W. Akers' sale of the John Jay Pittman Collection, Part II, May 1998, lot 1890; MONEX (Steve Contursi and Todd Griffiths); Heritage's sale of the Tribeca Collection, August 2017 Denver ANA Signature Auction, lot 4117.<p>7 - <strong>Proof.</strong> Ex RARCOA's session of Auction '81, July 1981, lot 391; Dennis With. This coin is possibly the same as one of the above.<p>Ranking in the upper half of the census for this exceedingly rare issue, the Starr specimen is a beautiful Choice Proof with reflective fields supporting frosty motifs. Some light, original planchet texture obscures the reflectivity in a few areas of the obverse field, but this feature is as made and hardy distracting. Handsome deep orange-gold color with rose and olive highlights, the surfaces are wonderfully original and also carefully preserved with only a few trivial blemishes scattered about. The most significant of these for provenance purposes are a couple of faint lines on Liberty's cheek that are not readily evident at all angles. Rarity, quality and eye appeal all come to the fore here, creating a significant and fleeting offering that deserves the undivided attention of advanced Proof gold enthusiasts.