1870 $3 MS(PCGS#7991)

August 2019 ANA U.S. Coins Auction Rosemont, IL

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

5301

Grade

MS64

Price

39,200

Lot Description

Exceptional Choice Mint State 1870 $3 Gold Rarity Among the Finest Known to PCGS 1870 Three-Dollar Gold Piece. MS-64 (PCGS). Charming satin surfaces reveal modest semi-reflective tendencies in the fields as the coin dips into a light. Warmly patinated in medium orange-gold, both sides are further enhanced by razor sharp to full striking detail. Smooth, appealing and rare Choice Mint State quality for this underrated rarity in the three-dollar gold series. The Philadelphia Mint produced just 3,500 circulation strikes of this denomination in 1870, survivors of which are rare and seldom offered in any grade. Fewer than 300 are believed extant, most of which are lightly circulated EF and AU coins obtained from the reserves of banks and bullion brokers by numismatic dealers during the early 20th century. With a mere 25 to 30 Mint State coins extant (per Bowers and Winter, 2005), the 1870 is a greater condition rarity than even such other challenging three-dollar gold issues from its era as the 1868 and 1871. Indeed, this is one of the few Uncirculated examples of this date that we have handled in recent years, a Condition Census near-Gem that should have no difficulty finding its way into another highly regarded collection. Provenance: From the Maurice Snow Collection. Acquired from Harry J. Forman, April 19, 1979. Earlier ex Bowers and Ruddy Galleries. PCGS Population: just 3; with a single MS-65+ finer. PCGS# 7991. NGC ID: 25MS. Click here for certification details from PCGS.