U.S. Postal History and U.S. Gold Goins continued...

AU55 NGC (# 1700560001)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $5,750

ESTIMATE: $3,750

MIN. BID W/O BP: $3,000

CONDITION NOTES: Bright yellow-gold lustrous surfaces with sharp details, which is unusual for this issue, couple small marks on face, but these are negligible -- the 1854-O is very scarce in better AU grades and rare in Mint State, so this strong AU55 is extremely desirable

COMMENTS: The $3.00 Princess was minted from 1854 through 1889. For most of these years, the basic domestic postage rate was 3¢, so a single gold coin could be used to buy a standard sheet of 100 stamps. 1854, the first year of issue, was the New Orleans Mint's only mintage of the series. 24,000 pieces were released. (Image) (image2)

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AU58 NGC (# 4838479004)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $2,120

ESTIMATE: $1,300

MIN. BID W/O BP: $950

CONDITION NOTES: Beautiful rich honey-gold surfaces with extremely sharp details, minimal blemishes do not detract from the overall choice appearance

COMMENTS: 26,010 of the $3.00 Princess were minted in Philadelphia for circulation in 1856. (Image) (image2)

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AU58 NGC (# 4877993003)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $2,250

ESTIMATE: $1,300

MIN. BID W/O BP: $950

CONDITION NOTES: Deep satiny gold surfaces with hint of greenish hue, moderately detailed strike, no prominent marks but a slightly discolored spot in field to left of bust

COMMENTS: 15,558 of the $3.00 Princess were minted in Philadelphia for circulation in 1859. (Image) (image2)

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MS62 PCGS (# 37616575)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $5,940

ESTIMATE: $3,750

MIN. BID W/O BP: $3,000

CONDITION NOTES: Lovely gold luster with hints of rose-gold on both surfaces, sharp and fully defined strike, minute mark on cheek but otherwise virtually mark-free

COMMENTS: 7,036 $3.00 Princess coins were minted in Philadelphia for circulation in 1860. It is believed that many of these were melted after northern banks suspended gold specie payments in December 1861 (Bowers). PCGS reports 36 at MS62 and 45 higher. NGC reports 14 MS62 and 17 higher. (Image) (image2)

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AU58 NGC (# 4428003003)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $6,910

ESTIMATE: $4,500

MIN. BID W/O BP: $3,500

CONDITION NOTES: Lovely rose-gold surfaces, especially strong crimson hue on the reverse, although the strike is somewhat soft, there is very little wear and virtually no handling marks, an attractive high-grade About Uncirculated example of this scarce Civil War era $3.00 Princess

COMMENTS: An extremely low-volume mintage of 5,959 $3.00 Princess pieces was made at Philadelphia during the first year of the Civil War, as the utility and demand for this odd denomination waned. NGC reports just 70 in AU58 (61 higher). (Image) (image2)

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AU55 NGC (# 1891241004)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $5,190

ESTIMATE: $3,250

MIN. BID W/O BP: $2,600

CONDITION NOTES: Attractive medium gold luster, sharp strike, scattered minute marks, a strong AU55

COMMENTS: There were just 5,750 $3.00 Princess coins minted for circulation in the second year of the Civil War. Fewer than 300 coins in all grades are estimated to survive (Bowers). (Image) (image2)

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MS61 PCGS (# 35931780)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $4,280

ESTIMATE: $2,800

MIN. BID W/O BP: $2,200

CONDITION NOTES: Brilliant orange-gold proof-like reflective surfaces with an almost cameo effect, sharply detailed strike, minute contact mark at the base of the bust and a hairline across "A" of "States", but we really do not see anything to explain the MS61 grade, its appearance is near Gem-like

COMMENTS: There were just 4,850 $3.00 Princess coins minted for circulation in 1868. PCGS 18 at MS61 and 99 higher. NGC reports 48 MS61 and 38 higher. (Image) (image2)

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