1871 $3 AU55 Certification #38154222, PCGS #7993

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

SCARCE LOW MINTAGE 1871 THREE DOLLAR GRADED AU55 BY PCGS AND APPROVED BY CAC Just 1,300 business strikes were made of this date and the 1871 is an underrated issue which is not often found choice, even in the About Uncirculated grades. This is a lightly worn, frosty example with as much luster and overall detail as I have seen on many 1871 Threes in AU58 holders. Since June 2008, only five PCGS AU55 examples of this date have sold at auction and none were approved by CAC. The last PCGS AU55 1871 Three to sell at auction brought $2,468 as Heritage 9/2012: 4878. This represents just about the best quality for this date in the circulated grades. CAC has approved three in this grade with 13 finer.

Expert Comments

David Akers (1975/88)

With a mintage of only 1,330 poeces, the 1871 has one of the lowest mintages in the entire series. It is also one of the rarest in terms of pieces available. However, most of the known specimens are relatively high grade. I have seen a small number of choice uncirculated examples of this date, with possibly the finest being the gem that appeared in the Marks Sale in November, 1972. All of the choice specimens that I have seen of this date were fully proof-like and could easily be mistaken by some for proofs. However, the position of the date is markedly different on proofs than it is on uncs. The date on the proofs is higher in the field and is nearly centered between DOLLARS and the bow, while on the business strikes, it is very low with the 7 nearly touching the ribbon.

PCGS #

7993

Designer

James Barton Longacre

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

20.50 millimeters

Weight

5.02 grams

Mintage

1300

Metal

90% Gold, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

124

Pop Lower

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	650	R-5.7	19 / 41 TIE	19 / 41 TIE
All Grades	100	R-8.0	21 / 41 TIE	21 / 41 TIE
60 or Better	3	R-9.8	8 / 41 TIE	8 / 41 TIE

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	650
All Grades	100
60 or Better	3

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-5.7
All Grades	R-8.0
60 or Better	R-9.8

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	19 / 41 TIE
All Grades	21 / 41 TIE
60 or Better	8 / 41 TIE

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	19 / 41 TIE
All Grades	21 / 41 TIE
60 or Better	8 / 41 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS67 PCGS grade	Colonial Coins, sold privately in 8/1972 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II - Bowers & Merena 10/1999:688, $41,400 -Great Lakes Collection - Hanks & Associates, sold privately as an entire collection in 10/2005 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 2/2016:3112, $70,500
2	MS65 PCGS grade
3	MS64+ PCGS grade
4	MS64 PCGS grade
4	MS64 PCGS grade

#1 MS67 PCGS grade

Colonial Coins, sold privately in 8/1972 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II - Bowers & Merena 10/1999:688, $41,400 -Great Lakes Collection - Hanks & Associates, sold privately as an entire collection in 10/2005 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 2/2016:3112, $70,500

#2 MS65 PCGS grade

#3 MS64+ PCGS grade

#4 MS64 PCGS grade