1832

1859 $3 PR66 Cameo NGC.From The Larj Collection. 1859[$3] PR66 Cameo NGC.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:110.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1859 $3 PR66 Cameo NGC.From The Larj Collection. 1859[$3] PR66 Cameo NGC.
<B>1859<$3> PR66 Cameo NGC.</B></I> A common theme among the early proof gold coins, from the 1850s and 1860s, is a surviving population of about 10 to 12 coins. As a rule, survival rates are lower for the larger denomination coins. It was an simpler financial decision to keep small denomination proofs and spend larger denomination proofs when money was needed. The mintage of this issue is usually reported as 80 proofs, but it is likely that most were later melted after remaining unsold. Breen has suggested a net mintage of about 35 to 40 coins. In his <I>Complete Encyclopedia,</B></I> he stated: "at least 35 sold at [the] Mint, rest melted." It is difficult to be certain how many of those coins survive today, although 10 or 12 examples seems likely.<BR> The outer right curve of the digit 9 is slightly recut, a characteristic of the die that was used to produce proofs and business strikes alike. This is an amazing Gem proof with exceptional cameo contrast. The fields are deeply mirrored in rich greenish-gold, with highly lustrous and frosty devices. As expected, every design element is boldly detailed. The surfaces have a few typical planchet flakes leftover from the minting process. A tiny curved lint mark can be seen below the right base of M in AMERICA, with a small flake below this, and another near the upper left serif of the adjacent E. These are the only convenient pedigree markers, and are generally not visible in older catalog photos.<BR><I>From The Larj Collection.</B></I>