Sale 1223 — U.S. Postal History and U.S. Gold Coins
Sale Date — Fri, 5 Jun, 2020
Category — $3 Princess — Lots 9058 to 9064
Lot 9058
Type: Princess Gold
Denomination: $3.00
Year-Mint: 1854 - O
PCGS #: 7971
Grade: AU 55 Service: NGC
Identification #: 1700560001
CDN CPG® Value: $5,750
Estimate: $3,750
Minimum Bid: $3,000
Realized: $3,500 (with premium $4,130)
Condition Notes
Bright yellow-gold lustrous surfaces with sharp details, which is unusual for this issue, couple small marks on face, but these are negligible – the 1854-O is very scarce in better AU grades and rare in Mint State, so this strong AU55 is extremely desirable
Commentary
The $3.00 Princess was minted from 1854 through 1889. For most of these years, the basic domestic postage rate was 3¢, so a single gold coin could be used to buy a standard sheet of 100 stamps. 1854, the first year of issue, was the New Orleans Mint's only mintage of the series. 24,000 pieces were released.
Lot 9059
Type: Princess Gold
Denomination: $3.00
Year-Mint: 1856 -
PCGS #: 7974
Grade: AU 58 Service: NGC
Identification #: 4838479004
CDN CPG® Value: $2,120
Estimate: $1,300
Minimum Bid: $950
Realized: $1,100 (with premium $1,298)
Condition Notes
Beautiful rich honey-gold surfaces with extremely sharp details, minimal blemishes do not detract from the overall choice appearance
Commentary
26,010 of the $3.00 Princess were minted in Philadelphia for circulation in 1856.
Lot 9060
Type: Princess Gold
Denomination: $3.00
Year-Mint: 1859 -
PCGS #: 7979
Grade: AU 58 Service: NGC
Identification #: 4877993003
CDN CPG® Value: $2,250
Estimate: $1,300
Minimum Bid: $950
Realized: $1,250 (with premium $1,475)
Condition Notes
Deep satiny gold surfaces with hint of greenish hue, moderately detailed strike, no prominent marks but a slightly discolored spot in field to left of bust
Commentary
15,558 of the $3.00 Princess were minted in Philadelphia for circulation in 1859.
Lot 9061
Type: Princess Gold
Denomination: $3.00
Year-Mint: 1860 -
PCGS #: 7980
Grade: MS 62 Service: PCGS
Identification #: 37616575
CDN CPG® Value: $5,940
Estimate: $3,750
Minimum Bid: $3,000
Realized: $3,500 (with premium $4,130)
Condition Notes
Lovely gold luster with hints of rose-gold on both surfaces, sharp and fully defined strike, minute mark on cheek but otherwise virtually mark-free
Commentary
7,036 $3.00 Princess coins were minted in Philadelphia for circulation in 1860. It is believed that many of these were melted after northern banks suspended gold specie payments in December 1861 (Bowers). PCGS reports 36 at MS62 and 45 higher. NGC reports 14 MS62 and 17 higher.
Lot 9062
Type: Princess Gold
Denomination: $3.00
Year-Mint: 1861 -
PCGS #: 7982
Grade: AU 58 Service: NGC
Identification #: 4428003003
CDN CPG® Value: $6,910
Estimate: $4,500
Minimum Bid: $3,500
Realized: $3,850 (with premium $4,543)
Condition Notes
Lovely rose-gold surfaces, especially strong crimson hue on the reverse, although the strike is somewhat soft, there is very little wear and virtually no handling marks, an attractive high-grade About Uncirculated example of this scarce Civil War era $3.00 Princess
Commentary
An extremely low-volume mintage of 5,959 $3.00 Princess pieces was made at Philadelphia during the first year of the Civil War, as the utility and demand for this odd denomination waned. NGC reports just 70 in AU58 (61 higher).
Lot 9063
Type: Princess Gold
Denomination: $3.00
Year-Mint: 1862 -
PCGS #: 7983
Grade: AU 55 Service: NGC
Identification #: 1891241004
CDN CPG® Value: $5,190
Estimate: $3,250
Minimum Bid: $2,600
Realized: $3,150 (with premium $3,717)
Condition Notes
Attractive medium gold luster, sharp strike, scattered minute marks, a strong AU55
Commentary
There were just 5,750 $3.00 Princess coins minted for circulation in the second year of the Civil War. Fewer than 300 coins in all grades are estimated to survive (Bowers).
Lot 9064
Type: Princess Gold
Denomination: $3.00
Year-Mint: 1868 -
PCGS #: 7989
Grade: MS 61 Service: PCGS
Identification #: 35931780
CDN CPG® Value: $4,280
Estimate: $2,800
Minimum Bid: $2,200
Realized: $2,800 (with premium $3,304)
Condition Notes
Brilliant orange-gold proof-like reflective surfaces with an almost cameo effect, sharply detailed strike, minute contact mark at the base of the bust and a hairline across "A" of "States", but we really do not see anything to explain the MS61 grade, its appearance is near Gem-like
Commentary
There were just 4,850 $3.00 Princess coins minted for circulation in 1868. PCGS 18 at MS61 and 99 higher. NGC reports 48 MS61 and 38 higher.














