Coin

3 Dollars "Indian Princess Head" (1860) — United States

United States • 1860 • KM# 84, PCGS# 7969-7995, 7998-8011, etc.

3 Dollars "Indian Princess Head" (1860) — United States

Overview

A Proof strike gold 3 Dollars coin of United States, featuring Indian princess head left crowned with circle of feathers on the obverse and Denomination and date within a wreath of tobacco, wheat, corn and cotton on the reverse. Minted in 1860 at the United States Mint of Philadelphia in a limited mintage of 119 pieces. Composed of Gold (.900) (.100 copper) with a reeded edge.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
1860
Composition
Gold (.900) (.100 copper)
Weight
5.015 g
Diameter
20.5 mm
Mint
United States Mint of Philadelphia
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
References
KM# 84, PCGS# 7969-7995, 7998-8011, etc.
Issuer
United States

Design details

Obverse

Indian princess head left crowned with circle of feathers Script: Latin Lettering: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LIBERTY Engraver: James Barton Longacre

Reverse

Denomination and date within a wreath of tobacco, wheat, corn and cotton Script: Latin Lettering: 3 DOLLARS 1878 Engraver: James Barton Longacre

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: James Barton Longacre is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
  • Struck at: United States Mint of Philadelphia. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Low mintage: Only 119 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
  • Gold issue: Gold (.900) (.100 copper) — bullion demand competes with numismatic demand. Weight and fineness (not just face value) drive the melt-value floor.
  • Catalogue reference: Listed as KM# 84, PCGS# 7969-7995, 7998-8011, etc.. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Curator Insights

Historical context

The three-dollar gold piece was authorized by the Act of February 21, 1853, primarily to facilitate the purchase of sheets of 100 three-cent stamps. By 1860, the United States was on the precipice of the Civil War, leading to economic uncertainty that would soon result in the suspension of specie payments. This specific issue reflects a period when gold coins were still circulating in the East before the massive hoarding and export seen during the conflict.

Design heritage

Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre designed the 'Indian Princess' motif, which actually depicts a profile of Liberty wearing a stylized feathered headdress rather than an accurate Native American depiction. The reverse features a composite wreath of tobacco, wheat, corn, and cotton, known as the 'agricultural wreath,' intended to symbolize the primary crops of the American North and South. Longacre also utilized a similar agricultural wreath for the contemporary small-size one-dollar gold piece and the Flying Eagle cent.

Varieties and technical notes

This 1860 issue was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a reeded edge and a weight of 5.015 grams. Collectors should focus on the quality of the mirrors and the sharpness of the strike, which are characteristic of the specialized proof preparation for this extremely low mintage year. Because no significant die varieties are recorded for this date, authentication centers on identifying the specific die polish lines unique to the proof presses used in 1860.

Survival and modern availability

With a confirmed mintage of only 119 pieces, this proof issue is exceptionally rare and primarily survived through inclusion in year-sets for contemporary collectors. Many gold coins of this era were lost to melting during the 1933 recall or exported to Europe for bullion value, but the proof status of these coins provided a higher incentive for preservation. The surviving population is very small, making any extant specimen a significant rarity in the numismatic market.

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