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Three Dollar Gold Princess $3 1854-1889 MS [Type]

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Gold): 0.1451 oz +2.62%
$483.63
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The Indian Princess Three Dollar Gold Coin was produced from 1854 through 1889. It was certainly one of the more odd denominations of coinage produced by the U.S. Mint. Many people do not even know this sort of coinage existed considering its relatively short lifespan and how the value of gold at that time was less than silver is today. This series is one of those hidden gems in gold numismatics that is certainly worth learning more about. These Three Dollar Pieces were only struck in minimal amounts with just 10,000 coins being about the average mintage for this series/denomination. There are many exciting key dates and rarities ranging from mintages in the hundreds to absolute unique specimens. The story of how these coins came to be is quite unexciting but very logical. Since stamps dropped from 5 cents to 3 in the early 1850’s Three Cent Silvers were created for the purpose of stamp buying. Another way to buy stamps was by the full sheet which explains the existence of the Indian Princess Three Dollar Gold Coin since there are 100 stamps on a sheet making it cost 3 dollars. Under an Act put in place in 1853, the infamous engraver Longacre was provided with the duties of designing this new denomination. He went on to design this coin at the same time as the revamping of the gold dollar which is why they look so much alike. The design is very appealing to the eye with a large, pretty obverse device and very clear notation of the date and denomination within a wreath on the reverse. Production of this coin began in 1854 at the Mints in Philadelphia, Dahlonega and New Orleans. Mintage numbers started relatively high at around 100,000 and then quickly plummeted. Smaller and smaller mintages as the years went on. Miniscule mintages of proofs were also struck for this series. Proof mintage numbers on average are around 20 pieces with some later issues being produced in the low triple digits. Some business strike rarities include the 1854-D, the 1870-S and the 1873. The proof rarities are much more extensive but are highlighted by the 1875 and 1876 but nothing compares to the 1855-S branch mint proof rarity. This coin is beautifully designed and extremely unique. The denomination ended by 1889 and was never brought back. Many of the coins in this series are incredibly rare and even the common dates are scarce as high end gems. Even with all that said this series is not highly collected and the market for these coins is quite small. This is not to say that things cannot change for this Indian Princess Three Dollar coins as there are plenty of reasons to be interested in them.

Obverse Description

The head of a Native American princess with a crown of feathers atop her head. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN circle the periphery from 7 o'clock to 5 o'clock.

Reverse Description

"3 DOLLARS" is centered with date below, surrounded by a large wreath tied in a bow at the bottom.

Catalog Information

GSID: 72370
Designer: James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer: James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering: LIBERTY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Reverse Designer: James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering: 3, DOLLARS, [Date]
Fineness: 0.9
Weight (gr): 5.015 gr
Weight (oz): 0.1612 oz
Precious Metal Weight: 0.1451 oz
Strike Type: Business
Diameter: 20.5
Coin Shape: Round
Edge: Reeded
Variety: 1854-1889
Coin Date: Three Dollar Gold Princess
Denomination: $3
Designation: MS
Coinage Type: Three Dollar Gold
Coinage Years: 1854-1889
Composition: 90% gold; 10% copper
PCGS #: 7968
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Coin Value History
Three Dollar Gold Princess $3 1854-1889 MS [Type]
Value By Grade
Three Dollar Gold Princess $3 1854-1889 MS [Type]
CPG (retail) values
Value by grade is available to subscribers. Subscribe to View

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Gold): 0.1451 oz +2.62%
$483.63
GSID:72370 PCGS:7968 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
MS68 CAC $150,000 $1,234
MS68 - $102,000 $1,234
MS67 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS67 - $1,234 $1,234
MS66 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS66 - $1,234 $1,234
MS65 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS65 - $1,234 $1,234
MS64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS64 - $1,234 $1,234
MS63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS63 - $1,234 $1,234
MS62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS62 - $1,234 $1,234
MS61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS61 - $1,234 $1,234
MS60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234
XF45 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF45 - $1,234 $1,234
XF40 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF40 - $1,234 $1,234
VF35 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF35 - $1,234 $1,234
VF30 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF30 - $1,234 $1,234
VF25 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF25 - $1,234 $1,234
VF20 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF20 - $1,234 $1,234
F15 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F15 - $1,234 $1,234
F12 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F12 - $1,234 $1,234
VG10 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG10 - $1,234 $1,234
VG8 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG8 - $1,234 $1,234
G6 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G6 - $1,234 $1,234
G4 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G4 - $1,234 $1,234

Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
See all
1857-S $3 Fine 15 PCGS. PCGS Population: 3 in 15, 191 finer (12/25). CDN: $1,075 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Fine 15. Mintage 1...
$1,342
Sold 2/4/2026
Heritage Auctions
1854 $3 -- Scratched -- ANACS Details. AU58 Details. Mintage 138,600. ...
$1,159
Sold 1/21/2026
Heritage Auctions
1858 $3 -- Cleaned, Mount Removed -- ANACS Details. XF40 Details. Mintage 2,133....
$1,525
Sold 1/21/2026
Heritage Auctions
1874 $3 XF45 PCGS. CDN: $1,160 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 41,800....
$1,281
Sold 1/21/2026
Heritage Auctions
1874 $3 AU53 PCGS. CDN: $1,360 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 41,800....
$1,525
Sold 1/21/2026
Heritage Auctions
1874 $3 MS62 NGC. CDN: $2,250 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS62. Mintage 41,800. ...
$2,562
Sold 1/17/2026
Heritage Auctions
1868 $3 AU50 PCGS. PCGS Population: 45 in 50, 300 finer (11/25). CDN: $2,200 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU50. Mintage 4,875. ...
$2,379
Sold 1/17/2026
Heritage Auctions
1857 $3 AU55 NGC. CDN: $1,600 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 20,891. ...
$1,891
Sold 1/17/2026
Heritage Auctions
1889 $3 MS63 PCGS. ...
$6,405
Sold 1/16/2026
Heritage Auctions
1856 $3 MS64 PCGS. ...
$8,540
Sold 1/16/2026
Heritage Auctions
1878 $3 MS66 PCGS. ...
$14,030
Sold 1/16/2026
Heritage Auctions
1878 $3 MS65 NGC. ...
$7,930
Sold 1/16/2026
Heritage Auctions
1856 $3 VF30 NGC. CAC. NGC Census: 10 in 30, 886 finer. CAC: 1 in 30, 110 finer (10/25). CDN: $925 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS ...
$1,140
Sold 11/26/2025
Heritage Auctions
1887 $3 VF35 NGC. NGC Census: 1 in 35, 212 finer (10/25). CDN: $1,675 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF35. Mintage 6,000. ...
$1,920
Sold 11/14/2025
Heritage Auctions
1872 $3 MS61 PCGS....
$7,800
Sold 11/13/2025
Heritage Auctions
1854 $3 -- Cleaned, Scratched -- ANACS Details. VF25. Mintage 138,600. ...
$840
Sold 10/29/2025
Heritage Auctions
1878 $3 MS67 NGC....
$25,200
Sold 8/26/2025
Heritage Auctions
1854-O $3 Fair 2 PCGS. PCGS Population: (1/721). Mintage 24,000. ...
$1,440
Sold 3/5/2025
Heritage Auctions
1854-O $3 MS60 NGC. Winter-2....
$26,400
Sold 1/16/2025
Heritage Auctions
1856-S $3 Fine 12 NGC. NGC Census: (7/573). PCGS Population: (7/513). CDN: $1,000 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Fine 12. Mintage ...
$1,066
Sold 2/7/2024
Heritage Auctions
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