1872 Three-Dollar Gold Piece. AU-58 (NGC). CAC. OH.

1872 Three-Dollar Gold Piece. AU-58 (NGC). CAC. OH.，A thoroughly premium quality example for the assigned grade, this coin offers overall sharp striking detail, vivid medium gold patina and nearly complete prooflike luster. Struck during an era when this denomination had long since ceased to play an important role in commerce, the 1872 has a paltry circulation strike mintage of 2,000 pieces. Q. David Bowers and Douglas Winter (<em>The United States $3 Gold Pieces: 1854-1889</em>, 2005) suggest that these coins were made primarily as gifts for contemporary collectors who were willing to pay a premium for them. Regardless, survivors are elusive and number fewer than 350 coins in all grades. This is one of the nicest examples that we have handled in recent memory and is worthy of the strongest bid.，，