The 1870-S Indian Princess Three Dollar Gold Piece ranks among the great rarities of American numismatics. According to the Superintendent of the San Francisco Mint, only a single specimen of the coin had been struck for inclusion within the cornerstone of the new mint building. For a time, it was believed that two examples of the coin existed, however most researchers now recognize that only a single coin was struck, making the one known piece a unique rarity.
The single known specimen is graded approximately AU with the numbers “893” scratched into the upper field of the reverse. Additionally, the coin was once used as jewelry and shows evidence of a suspension loop having been applied and later removed from the top edge. The coin last sold in 1982 for $687,500 and presently resides in the Harry W. Bass reference collection on display at the American Numismatic Association headquarters.
Coin Specifications
- Designer: James B. Longacre
- Composition: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
- Weight: 5.015 grams
- Diameter: 20.5 mm
- Edge: Reeded
