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1854-D $3 MS62 NGC. 1854-D[$3] MS62 NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1854-D $3 MS62 NGC. 1854-D[$3] MS62 NGC
<B>1854-D<$3> MS62 NGC.</B></I> Variety 1-A. The only dies used to strike this issue.<BR> It would be hard to imagine a more popular 19th century gold coin than the 1854-D three dollar. It is the only issue of this denomination to be produced at the Dahlonega mint, it was struck during the first year of issue for this odd, quirky denomination, and it has an extremely low mintage figure of 1,120 pieces. Thus, it has multiples levels of appeal that transcend Dahlonega collectors. Simply put, this is the "High Relief of Branch Mint Gold."<BR> This piece shows a characteristic strike for the issue, but it is better detailed than probably 90% of the other 1854-D three dollar gold pieces seen. On the obverse, the denticles are weak from 12 to 3 o'clock but they are very strong from 4 to 8 o'clock. The hair shows strong detail with nearly full separation of the curls and the bonnet is very sharp. The reverse has weakness on the denticles from 11 to 3 o'clock while the rest is sharp. The date and mintmark are very bold as well. On the obverse, there are a couple of ticks noted including a small reeding mark on Liberty's nostril, a few small marks on the face, and some light marks in the fields. The reverse has some minor ticks in the field above DOLLARS and below the date. Both sides are relatively lustrous and show medium orange-gold hues with splashes of coppery-red at the upper obverse and the upper reverse. The eye appeal is quite good and this is the finest 1854-D three dollar gold piece that Heritage has sold since the PCGS MS61 in the Green Pond Collection--a coin that sold for $92,000 and subsequently traded for more than $100,000.<BR> There are as many as 125-150 examples known of this date; somewhat surprising given the low original mintage figure. It seems likely that a number of these were saved as souvenirs. There are between three and five pieces known in Uncirculated with the finest of these an amazing fully struck example in the Bass Collection and currently on display at the ANA Museum in Colorado Springs. The finest certified example we know of is graded MS62 by PCGS in the Great Lakes Collection. This coin is famous for having brought $72,500 in 1981 in RARCOA's session of Auction '81.<BR> With demand for the 1854-D three dollar gold piece at an all-time high, we would not be surprised if the Duke's Creek coin sets an auction record and becomes the first example of this coveted issue to eclipse the $100,000 mark. <BR><I>From The Duke's Creek Collection of Dahlonega Gold.</B></I> <BR><BR><B>Importan