The
numismatic adventure can be enriched by acquiring groups of
coins in meaningful combinations. Sets of coins can run from
two pieces to many. In the areas of rare date and early silver
and gold coins we have established certain sets of special
interest. They include the first and last of an issue, type
sets, design sets, year sets, and those that are joined by
historical events such as the Civil War. The coins of each
set are specially selected for you and your collecting needs.
We are specialists in this
area and will expertly and confidentially help you assemble
a set similar to the one you see below, which is made up of
pieces from the US Rare Coin Investments’ archives.
We will cherry pick through millions of dollars of rare coins
selecting only the finest quality pieces for your collection.
1861
Three Dollar Gold - 1862 Three Dollar Gold - 1863 Three Dollar
Gold - 1864 Three Dollar Gold - 1865 Three Dollar Gold
Three Dollar Gold Civil War Set:
The Three-Dollar gold coin was issued from 1854 to 1889.
Prior to the Civil War, the coin was made at three branch
mints, in Dahlonega and New Orleans in 1854 and in San Francisco
in 1855 – 57 and 1860. With the exception of 1875
and 1876, they were made in Philadelphia continuously, including
the five years of the Civil War.
Designed by James B. Longacre, the coin
depicts Liberty as an “Indian Princess.” She
faces left in profile wearing a stylized crown of feathers,
the band of which is inscribed LIBERTY. Her wavy hair falls
down the back and the side of her neck to her shoulders.
The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the effigy
from under her chin to the end of her hair. The reverse
shows the denomination written as numeral 3 and the word
DOLLARS with the date in three lines. They are encircled
by an open wreath of corn, cotton, tobacco, and wheat. A
bow ties the ends of the wreath at the bottom.
Some numismatists feel that this odd denomination
was created so that people could purchase a sheet of three-cent
postage stamps or a group of 100 silver three-cent pieces.
However, most people were indifferent to the entire series.
Mintages vary but were highest in the first year of issue.
During the Civil War they ranged from a high of 5,959 in
1861 to 1,140 in 1865. While not the lowest in the three-dollar
gold series, certainly these are all low mintage coins.
1861
Three Dollar Gold - At the beginning of
1861South Carolina seceded from the Union. Six others, Mississippi,
Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas followed.
Later Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina
joined them. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate
States of America. Since the western counties of Virginia
did not wish to secede, they were later admitted into the
Union as the State of West Virginia in 1863. Lincoln issued
an order declaring the slaves of the South to be free. In
March Lincoln was inaugurated.
The CSA incorrectly assumed that European
countries would intervene in the coming war because of the
need for cotton for industry, but none did.
Mint State, well struck, lustrous pieces
such as the pictured 1861 example are difficult to find.
In its population report, NGC shows 25 in MS61 condition
with 33 better.
Approximate cost: F $850;
VF $1,100; AU50 $4,500; MS60 $8,250
1862
Three Dollar Gold - The British
were further dissuaded from intervening with the
Battle of Antietam in the fall of 1862, which ended
Lee’s invasion of Maryland. The victory gave
Lincoln the confidence to announce the Emancipation
Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which further discouraged
the British and French from plans to recognize the
Confederacy. It is important to note that the Proclamation
did not free all of the slaves. It did not apply
to the five slave states that were not in rebellion,
nor did it apply to most areas already controlled
by the Union army. It was the 13th Amendment to
the Constitution that made slavery illegal in all
of the United States.
This near-Gem 1862 example is well
detailed and fully lustrous. It has slivery-gold
surfaces and virtually no marks in the fields. In
its population report, NGC shows 5 in MS64 condition
with only 3 better.
Approximate cost: F
$850; VF $1,150; AU50 $3,850; MS60 $8,250
1863 Three Dollar
Gold - In 1863, Lee’s incursion
north ended at the Battle of Gettysburg. It was
the bloodiest battle of the war, and has been called
the war’s turning point. When Vicksburg surrendered,
it gave the Union control of the Mississippi River
and isolated the western Confederacy.
The 1863 piece is also in Mint condition.
The coin exhibits vivid mint luster and bright golden
color. The devices are strongly struck and the fields
are clean for the grade. In its population report,
NGC shows 15 in MS62 with 24 better.
Approximate cost: F
$850; VF $1,150; AU50 $4,500; MS60 $7,750
1864
Three Dollar Gold - At the beginning
of 1864, Lincoln made Grant commander of all Union
armies. Grant put Sherman in charge of most of the
western armies. Grant believed in the concept of
total war, which included destroying the Confederate
army and their economic base. Homes, farms, and
railroads were destroyed as Sherman captured Atlanta
and marched to the sea (the Atlantic Ocean).
This near-Gem 1864 three-dollar
piece is exceptional. It is a semi-key because of
its low mintage. It is lustrous and bold with yellow
and orange-gold shimmering surfaces. It is tied
for the second finest known at NGC with 3 others
at MS64 and 2 better.
Approximate cost:
F $850; VF $1,100; AU50 $4,250; MS60 $7,500
1865
Three Dollar Gold - Lee surrendered
on April 9, 1865 in the village of Appomattox Court
House. As a sign of respect and a gesture towards
reconciliation, he was permitted to keep his sword
and horse. A few days later, on April 14, 1865,
Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a Southern
sympathizer, and Andrew Johnson became president.
The last year of the Civil War is
represented in this group of coins by a Mint State
1865 piece, which is the key to the Civil War three-dollar
set. The coin shows deep orange-gold color and a
full strike with a minimum of surface abrasions.
In its population report, NGC shows 10 in MS61 with
13 better.
Approximate cost:
F $1,100; VF $1,650; AU50 $8,000; MS60 $16,500
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