Business-strike three-dollar gold pieces were produced at Philadelphia continuously from 1854 to 1889, with occasional branch-mint coinage at Dahlonega (1854 only), New Orleans (1854 only), and San Francisco. Only the 1854 issue has DOLLARS in small letters; 1855 onward use larger letters.
Key facts
- Designed by: James B. Longacre
- Issue dates: 1854–1889
- Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper
- Diameter: 20.5 mm
- Weight: 5.015 grams (77.39 grains)
- Edge: Reeded
- Mintage: 538,074 (business strikes, all dates)
Only 1854, 1874, and 1878 are close to common; post-Civil-War mintages were generally under 5,000 a year, making most dates scarce to rare. Landmark circulation issues include the first-year 1854, the only Dahlonega 1854-D (1,120 struck) and only New Orleans 1854-O, the unique 1870-S (a single known example), the low-mintage 1873 Closed 3 and 1877, and the tiny 1881 (500 struck).
We actively buy circulation-strike three-dollar gold in every grade. Send photos for a free, no-obligation offer.