1870 Proof Three Dollar Pattern - J-1031

Coin Details

Auction Record

$16,800 PR63+ 06-20-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

The nickel striking of the 1870 three dollar dies concludes the three-variety set for this denomination with its hardest and scarcest composition. Nickel's bluish-silver appearance provides a striking contrast to the warm yellow gold of the production three dollar piece, while the metal's hardness ensures that Longacre's intricate headdress feathers and wreath details are rendered with maximum sharpness. With the three dollar denomination already thinly produced in gold — just 3,500 business strikes and 35 proofs were made in 1870 — nickel off-metal strikings are correspondingly rare, representing the outer fringe of the 1870 pattern program.

Rarity Notes

R-8. Very rare to unique, estimated 2-3 examples survive.

Cross References

Judd-1031, Pollock-1166