1855-S Three Dollar Gold (1855-S $3) NGC AU55. Bright mint luster highlights Liberty’s headdress and outlines the devices on the rest of this 1855-S Three Dollar Gold coin. A trace of wear is seen on the hair above Liberty’s eye and wispy abrasion shows on both sides, in keeping with the grade. The obverse strike shows some weakness below BER and the lower hair, but the reverse strike is strong with all the details easily observable. Clash marks are seen, especially on the reverse and the dies are slightly rotated but not noted by NGC; however, these characteristics do not detract from the coin’s grade or value. James Longacre designed the three dollar gold coin using an Indian Princess motif.

He wanted to create a coin that would be distinctly different from the quarter and half eagle coronet designs. The design shows a Caucasian Liberty facing left wearing a stylized headdress. Liberty is surrounded by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The reverse shows an open wreath of corn, cotton, wheat, and tobacco tied at the bottom with a bow. The denomination 3 appears at the top center of the wreath, with DOLLARS and the date below within the wreath.

In 1851 a law was passed that authorized a three cent piece and also made the postage rate three cents. Two years later a new law was passed authorizing a light weight silver three cent coin and a three dollar gold coin. Evidently lawmakers believed that the gold coin would be useful to buy rolls of three cent coins and sheets of stamps. Its closeness to the quarter eagle, which was widely used, made the denomination somewhat illogical, and the public proved indifferent to them.

With an original mintage of 6,600, the 1855-S is rare in all conditions. In its population report NGC shows 148 coins in all grades. In AU55 there are 15 with 15 better.