1882 $3 MS(PCGS#8004)

1882 $3 MS (PCGS#8004)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: Gorgeous orange-gold surfaces are fully lustrous with modest semi-reflective tendencies to an otherwise satin texture. Sharply defined from an uncommonly well executed strike for a circulation strike three-dollar gold piece, both sides are also nicely preserved and solidly in the Choice category. By 1882, this denomination had long since fallen out of favor in commercial channels. With the exception of isolated surges in production in 1874 and 1878, yearly circulation strike mintages for the three-dollar gold piece had been extremely limited since the late 1850s. The mintage for the 1882 was 1,500 circulation strikes, delivered alongside a paltry 76 Proofs. All of these coins are attributed to the Philadelphia Mint.<p>Many circulation strikes of this date were undoubtedly melted after remaining in Treasury Department stocks as opposed to being paid out to banks. Enough were paid out, however, that earlier generations of numismatists were eventually able to secure a few hundred coins. By that time, however, most examples had already acquired wear. Of the 260 to 320 circulation strikes estimated to exist in all grades, Q. David Bowers and Doug Winter (<em>The United States $3 Gold Pieces: 1854-1889</em>, 2005) allow for no more than 180 Mint State coins, with most in grades through MS-64. The beautiful piece we offer here will appeal to advanced gold collectors specializing in this challenging 19th century series.