1870-S $3 Gold Princess Value & Price Guide

Only one confirmed example exists. It sits in a museum. Nobody is entirely sure how many were originally struck. The 1870-S $3 Gold Princess is one of the most mysterious and valuable coins in American numismatics, a coin so rare that it transcends collecting and enters the realm of national treasure.

Quick Value Summary

• Item: 1870-S $3 Gold Princess

• Year: 1870

• Mint: San Francisco (S)

• Category: Coins

• Estimated Value: $9,000,000+ (unique coin, no market comparisons possible)

• Rarity: Unique. Only one confirmed specimen exists.

• Location: Currently held in a museum collection

The Story

The $3 Gold Princess denomination is itself unusual. Congress authorized the coin in 1854, primarily to facilitate the purchase of 3-cent postage stamps in bulk (a sheet of 100 stamps cost $3). The coin was designed by James Barton Longacre, the Chief Engraver of the US Mint, and features a female Liberty wearing an elaborate feathered headdress on the obverse, with a wreath surrounding the denomination on the reverse. The denomination was never popular and was discontinued after 1889.

The 1870-S is the rarest date in the series by a staggering margin. San Francisco Mint records are ambiguous about how many were struck. No mintage figure appears in official reports. Some researchers believe as few as one or two pieces were struck, possibly as commemorative pieces related to the laying of the cornerstone of the new San Francisco Mint building in 1870.

The sole confirmed example is an extremely well-preserved coin that has been known to numismatists since at least the early 20th century. It was part of the famous Louis Eliasberg collection, the only complete collection of US coins ever assembled. USA Coin Book estimates the value at approximately $9,070,599, though this figure is theoretical since the coin has not traded publicly in decades.

Other 1870-S coins from different denominations are also extremely rare, including the 1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar (only about 12 known) and the 1870-S Half Dime (unique). The San Francisco Mint's 1870 production records are incomplete, which adds to the mystique.

Context: The $3 Gold Princess Series

To understand why the 1870-S matters, it helps to understand the series:

• Production span: 1854-1889, struck at Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Dahlonega mints.

• Design: Indian Princess head on obverse, agricultural wreath on reverse.

• Typical mintages: Ranged from about 1,000 to 35,000 in most years. Several dates had mintages under 2,000.

• Key dates beyond 1870-S: 1854-D ($150,000-$500,000+), 1865 ($15,000-$100,000+), and 1876 ($50,000+).

• Series values: Common dates in the series start around $950 in lower grades. The series range from $950 to $6,600,000+ according to Greysheet.

How to Identify a $3 Gold Princess

• Obverse: Female Liberty facing left wearing a feathered headdress. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" around the border. The date is below the portrait.

• Reverse: A wreath of corn, cotton, wheat, and tobacco encircling "3 DOLLARS." No mintmark on the reverse; the mintmark appears on the reverse below the wreath.

• Size: 20.5mm diameter, approximately the size of a modern dime.

• Weight: 5.015 grams.

• Metal: 90% gold, 10% copper.

• Edge: Reeded.

Important notes:

• The 1870-S mintmark (S) appears on the reverse below the wreath.

• Any claim to own an 1870-S $3 Gold Princess should be treated with extreme skepticism. Only one confirmed example exists, and its whereabouts are well documented.

Value by Condition

For the 1870-S specifically, condition grading is academic since only one example exists. However, for the $3 Gold Princess series broadly:

About Good (AG-3): Heavily worn, design barely visible. Common dates in this grade start around $950.

Very Good (VG-8): Major design elements visible. Common dates $1,200-$2,000.

Extremely Fine (EF-40): Moderate wear on high points only. Common dates $2,000-$4,000.

About Uncirculated (AU-50): Trace wear on highest points. Common dates $3,000-$6,000.

Mint State (MS-60+): No wear visible. Common dates $5,000-$15,000+. Choice uncirculated examples of scarce dates can reach six figures.

The 1870-S: Estimated at $9,000,000+. If it were ever to appear at public auction (unlikely), the price could be higher given the unique nature of the coin and the competitive dynamics of major numismatic auctions.

Authentication and Fakes

Counterfeits of rare gold coins are a serious problem:

• Professional grading is mandatory: Any $3 Gold Princess, regardless of date, should be authenticated and graded by PCGS or NGC before purchase. Both services have extensive diagnostics databases for this denomination.

• Weight and dimensions: Counterfeit gold coins often have incorrect weight or diameter. A jeweler's scale accurate to 0.01 grams can identify many fakes immediately.

• Specificity test: A specific gravity test can determine whether the metal composition is correct for 90% gold.

• 1870-S claims: Any private claim to own an 1870-S $3 Princess is almost certainly fraudulent. The unique specimen is accounted for. Approach such claims with absolute skepticism.

• Common counterfeited dates: Lower-mintage dates like 1855-S, 1860-S, and 1873 (Open 3) are more commonly counterfeited due to their high values.

Where to Sell

For $3 Gold Princess coins (common dates and moderately rare dates):

• Heritage Auctions: The dominant auction house for US coins. Handles the majority of six-figure numismatic sales. Buyer's premium 20%.

• Stack's Bowers: Another premier numismatic auction house with deep expertise in rare US gold.

• PCGS/NGC dealer networks: Both grading services maintain dealer directories that can connect sellers with qualified buyers.

• Major coin shows: The FUN Show (Florida), ANA World's Fair of Money, and Long Beach Expo attract dealers who buy rare gold coins.

• Private dealers: For coins valued above $50,000, private placement through established numismatic dealers may achieve stronger net returns.

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a quick estimate.

Explore More

The 1870-S $3 Gold Princess stands in a class of its own among American coins. It is not just rare; it is functionally unique. For those who collect the broader $3 Princess series, the series offers accessibility at the common-date level and extraordinary rarity at the top. Every collection tells a story, and the $3 Princess series tells one of America's most obscure.

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