Gold Three Dollar
1854–1889 • America's Only $3 Gold Coin • James B. Longacre Design
Gold Three Dollar Coin Value Guide
Most gold three dollar coins are worth $1,800–$3,500 in circulated condition. Even the most common dates, 1874 and 1878, sell well above their gold value because the whole series was struck in small numbers. Branch-mint issues, low-mintage Civil War dates and proof-only years run from several thousand dollars into six figures.
Every $3 gold piece contains 0.1451 oz of gold. "Circulated" covers roughly VF to AU grades. "Mint State" is a typical MS-63 value; proof-only issues are marked PR.
| Date / Variety | Mint | Mintage | Circulated (VF–AU) | Mint State (MS-63) | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Year & Branch Mints (1854–1860) | |||||
| 1854 (Small DOLLARS, one-year type) | Philadelphia | 138,618 | $2,000–$3,500 | $8,000–$12,000 | eBay → |
| 1854-D KEY | Dahlonega | 1,120 | $25,000–$60,000 | $150,000+ | eBay → |
| 1854-O | New Orleans | 24,000 | $3,000–$8,000 | $50,000+ | eBay → |
| 1855 | Philadelphia | 50,555 | $2,000–$3,500 | $9,000–$14,000 | eBay → |
| 1855-S | San Francisco | 6,600 | $3,000–$7,000 | $60,000+ | eBay → |
| 1856–1857 | Philadelphia | 20,891–26,010 | $2,000–$3,500 | $9,000–$15,000 | eBay → |
| 1856-S / 1857-S | San Francisco | 34,500 / 14,000 | $2,500–$7,000 | $40,000+ | eBay → |
| 1858 | Philadelphia | 2,133 | $3,000–$6,000 | $20,000+ | eBay → |
| 1859–1860 | Philadelphia | 7,036–15,558 | $2,200–$4,000 | $9,000–$15,000 | eBay → |
| 1860-S | San Francisco | 7,000 | $3,000–$8,000 | $40,000+ | eBay → |
| Civil War & Reconstruction (1861–1873) | |||||
| 1861–1863 | Philadelphia | 5,000–5,959 | $2,800–$5,000 | $12,000–$18,000 | eBay → |
| 1864 | Philadelphia | 2,630 | $3,000–$5,500 | $15,000+ | eBay → |
| 1865 KEY | Philadelphia | 1,140 | $4,000–$10,000 | $20,000+ | eBay → |
| 1866–1872 | Philadelphia | 1,300–4,850 | $2,800–$5,500 | $12,000–$20,000 | eBay → |
| 1870-S KEY | San Francisco | 1 known | Unique | $1,000,000+ (est.) | — |
| 1873 Open & Closed 3 KEY | Philadelphia | Very limited | $20,000–$40,000 | PR: $40,000+ | eBay → |
| Common Dates, Proof-Only Years & Final Issues (1874–1889) | |||||
| 1874 (common date) | Philadelphia | 41,800 | $1,800–$2,800 | $4,500–$6,500 | eBay → |
| 1875 KEY | Philadelphia | 20 (proof only) | — | PR: $150,000–$300,000+ | eBay → |
| 1876 KEY | Philadelphia | 45 (proof only) | — | PR: $45,000–$80,000 | eBay → |
| 1877 KEY | Philadelphia | 1,468 | $5,000–$12,000 | $40,000+ | eBay → |
| 1878 (most common date) | Philadelphia | 82,304 | $1,800–$2,800 | $4,500–$6,000 | eBay → |
| 1879–1880 | Philadelphia | 1,000–3,000 | $3,000–$6,000 | $6,500–$10,000 | eBay → |
| 1881 KEY | Philadelphia | 500 | $5,000–$10,000 | $15,000+ | eBay → |
| 1882–1888 | Philadelphia | 800–6,000 | $3,000–$6,000 | $6,500–$10,000 | eBay → |
| 1889 (final year) | Philadelphia | 2,300 | $3,000–$5,000 | $6,000–$9,000 | eBay → |
Values are approximate market ranges for authentic, problem-free coins as of October 2026, with gold near $4,170/oz. At that price the gold in a $3 piece is worth about $605. Collector demand, not gold content, sets the price of nearly every date in this series.
The History of the Gold Three Dollar
The gold three dollar coin holds a genuinely unique place in American numismatic history: it is the only $3 denomination the United States has ever struck, an odd fit within a coinage system otherwise built on denominations of 1, 2½, 5, 10, and 20 dollars. Authorized by the Act of February 21, 1853, and first struck in 1854, the coin was created primarily as a matter of practical convenience — its value happened to equal the cost of a sheet of 100 three-cent postage stamps, making it a genuinely useful denomination for buying stamps in bulk during an era when postal rates were a significant part of everyday commerce.
Despite this practical original purpose, the three dollar gold piece never achieved wide circulation acceptance and was struck in comparatively small quantities throughout its 36-year run (1854–1889), making the entire series scarcer than most other U.S. gold denominations of comparable age. Struck primarily at Philadelphia, with additional issues from Dahlonega, New Orleans, and San Francisco, the series stands today as a favorite among advanced U.S. gold collectors precisely because of this genuine, built-in scarcity across nearly every date in the run.
Design and Distinguishing Features
The gold three dollar was designed by James B. Longacre, chief engraver of the U.S. Mint, and remained essentially unchanged throughout its entire production run — a rare consistency for a 19th-century U.S. coin series. The obverse depicts an Indian princess wearing a feathered headdress (a design that would later influence Longacre's Indian Head cent), while the reverse features a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco encircling the denomination — an agricultural motif reflecting America's economic base at the time.
One notable design change followed the series' first year: on 1854 coins the word "DOLLARS" on the reverse is noticeably smaller than on later issues. The Mint enlarged the lettering for 1855 and after, which makes the 1854 a one-year type that type collectors seek separately. A separate distinction exists in 1873, where "Closed 3" and "Open 3" varieties (referring to how tightly the digit 3 in the date was engraved) create another popular collecting target within a single year.
Postage Stamp Origin
Created to match the price of 100 three-cent stamps — a genuinely practical origin for an unusual denomination.
Indian Princess Design
James B. Longacre's feathered-headdress Liberty portrait, later echoed in his Indian Head cent design.
Agricultural Wreath Reverse
Corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco encircle the denomination — a reflection of 19th-century American economic life.
1854 Small DOLLARS
Smaller reverse lettering used only in the first year makes the 1854 a one-year type.
1873 Closed 3 / Open 3
Two distinct date-engraving styles within a single year create a popular single-date collecting target.
The Unique 1870-S
Only one known example — struck for a mint cornerstone ceremony and among the rarest U.S. coins in existence.
Key Dates and Notable Rarities
The 1870-S three dollar gold piece stands as one of the most legendary rarities in all of American numismatics: only a single example is known to exist. According to numismatic tradition, a coin was struck to be placed in the cornerstone of the new San Francisco Mint building during its 1870 dedication ceremony, and that piece may still rest in the foundation. The surviving known example is part of the Harry W. Bass Jr. collection and has been displayed at the American Numismatic Association's Money Museum.
Beyond this singular rarity, the 1854-D — the only three dollar gold piece ever struck at the Dahlonega Mint — is a hugely significant key date with a mintage of just 1,120 coins, commanding strong premiums in any grade. The proof-only issues of 1875 and 1876, struck in extremely limited numbers exclusively for collectors rather than circulation, are similarly important rarities. Low-mintage business strikes such as the 1865, 1877 and 1881 round out the list of dates that carry the strongest premiums.
Collecting Gold Three Dollar Coins
The gold three dollar series presents a genuine collecting challenge relative to its short production run, since low original mintages across virtually every date mean even "common" dates command meaningful premiums over gold melt value — there is no truly inexpensive entry point into this series the way there is with, for example, common-date quarter eagles or half eagles. This built-in scarcity has made the series a particular favorite of advanced collectors specifically seeking denominations where genuine rarity, rather than condition alone, drives the collecting challenge.
Authentication is especially important for this series given both its high per-coin values and its historical popularity as a counterfeiting target — PCGS or NGC certification is strongly recommended for essentially any purchase, and considered mandatory for anything approaching the series' major rarities. Given the extraordinary values involved with pieces like the 1854-D or the proof-only 1875, purchases of significant examples should go through major auction houses or established PNG-affiliated dealers with documented provenance rather than casual secondary market channels.
Related Coin Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a gold three dollar coin worth?
Most gold three dollar coins sell for $1,800–$3,500 in circulated condition. The 1874 and 1878 are the most affordable dates. Low-mintage dates, branch-mint coins and proof-only issues are worth much more, from several thousand dollars to over $100,000.
Why did the U.S. Mint make a $3 gold coin?
The three dollar gold piece was authorized in 1853 primarily as a matter of practical convenience — its value exactly matched the cost of a sheet of 100 three-cent postage stamps, making it a genuinely useful denomination for bulk stamp purchases during an era when postal rates were an everyday commercial concern. Despite this practical origin, the coin never gained wide circulation acceptance and remains the only $3 denomination the United States has ever struck.
What is the rarest gold three dollar coin?
The 1870-S is the undisputed rarity of the series — only one example is known to exist. Numismatic tradition holds that a coin was struck to be placed in the cornerstone of the new San Francisco Mint building during its 1870 dedication ceremony. The single known surviving example is part of the Harry W. Bass Jr. collection, making it one of the most storied single coins in all of American numismatics.
Are gold three dollar coins a good investment?
Because the entire series was struck in relatively low quantities throughout its 36-year run, gold three dollar coins carry meaningful numismatic premiums above their gold content across essentially every date — there is no truly "common" entry point trading near melt value the way there is with some other U.S. gold denominations. This makes the series better suited to collectors focused on genuine numismatic rarity than investors seeking straightforward gold bullion exposure. As with any collectible investment, we recommend consulting a qualified financial advisor before making significant purchases.
What is the 1854 Small DOLLARS variety?
On 1854 three dollar gold pieces, the word "DOLLARS" on the reverse is engraved in noticeably smaller letters than on every later year. The Mint enlarged the lettering starting in 1855, so the 1854 stands as a one-year type. Type collectors often buy an 1854 alongside a later date to show both lettering styles.
How do I authenticate a gold three dollar coin before buying?
Given the series' consistently high values across virtually every date, PCGS or NGC certification is strongly recommended for essentially any purchase, and considered mandatory for key dates like the 1854-D or the proof-only 1875 and 1876. Buying from dealers affiliated with the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) provides additional confidence, and significant purchases should ideally go through major auction houses with documented provenance given the values typically involved in this series.
What is a good starting point for collecting this series?
A circulated 1874 or 1878 offers the most accessible entry point, typically $1,800–$2,800 — still a meaningful purchase given the series' inherent scarcity, but the most attainable option available. Collectors interested in the series' design history can add an 1854 to represent the first-year small-lettering type, a popular and historically meaningful pairing within this genuinely unique American denomination.
Collecting and Investing Strategies for United States Gold Coins This book covers regular-issue gold series from 1795 through 1933 and informs the reader on a number of investing strategies, including collecting by type, variety, or rarer issues.
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