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1882 $3 Gold

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:4,750.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 11,000.00 USD
1882 $3 Gold
1882 $3 Gold. PCGS graded MS-64. Only 1,500 pieces struck. Beautiful semi-reflective surfaces with the frosty luster that is a part of it whipsawing back and forth as the viewer tilts the coin under examination. And what does one find but endless radiance and uncompromising beauty. Low survival rate, as well, which only makes sense given the 1,500 mintage: Pop 23; 11 finer (PCGS # 8004) .

Among later Philadelphia Mint coins, mintages were very low, save for 41,800 struck in 1874 and 82,304 in 1878. Regarding these two higher-mintage dates, it is likely that thoughts of the resumption of payments of gold coins at par, which had not been done since December 28, 1861, would create a demand for $3 pieces. However, the experts at the Treasury Department were wrong, and no widespread interest ever developed.

Coinage reached an especially low point in 1873, when only a few hundred pieces seem to have been struck. Mint records are silent on circulating coinage of this year, and the best we can do is guess. A few years later, even fewer coins were made, with just 20 being struck in 1875 and only 45 in 1876, these being Proofs for collectors.

Beginning in 1879 and continuing to the end of the series in 1889, there was a modest investment and speculative interest by the public in $3 gold coins, and more Mint State pieces were saved than would have been the case otherwise.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000.