THREE DOLLAR GOLD PIECES 1854-1889 ($3.00)

The three dollar gold piece was authorized by the Act of February 21, 1853.  The coin was first struck in 1854.  It was never popular and saw very little circulation.

The coin weighs 77.4 grains, .900 fine.  The head on the obverse represents and Indian princess with hair tightly curling 0ver the neck, head crowned with a circle of feathers, the band of which is inscribed LIBERTY.  A wreath of tobacco, wheat, corn and cotton occupies the field on the reverse, with the denomination and date within it.

Restrikes of some years were made at the Mint: particularly 1873 and 1876. 

In the year 1854 only, the word DOLLARS is in much smaller letters than in years 1855 through 1889.  The 1856 proof has DOLLARS in large letters cut over the same word in small letters.

Designer: James B. Longacre
Weight: 5.015 grams
Composition .900 gold, .100 copper
Diameter: 20.50mm
Reeded edge
Mints: Philadelphia, Dahlonega, New Orleans, and San Francisco
Net Weight: .14512 oz. pure gold