Coin

3 Dollars "Indian Princess Head" (1883) — United States

United States • 1883 • KM# 84, PCGS# 7969-7995, 7998-8011, etc.

3 Dollars "Indian Princess Head" (1883) — United States

Overview

A Proof strike gold 3 Dollars coin of the United States, featuring the 'Indian Princess Head' obverse and a wreath reverse. Minted in 1883 with a limited mintage of 89 pieces. Composed of Gold (.900) (.100 copper) with a reeded edge.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
1883
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 89 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 originally introduced in 1854 to facilitate the purchase of sheets of 100 three-cent stamps. By 1883, the denomination had lost its practical utility in American commerce, and the United States Mint at Philadelphia produced this specific issue almost exclusively for the numismatic community. The year 1883 sits within the final decade of the series, which was eventually discontinued in 1889 due to limited public circulation.

Design heritage

Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre utilized a profile of an 'Indian Princess,' which was actually a stylized adaptation of his own daughter, Caroline, wearing a feathered headdress. The reverse features a wreath comprised of agricultural staples including tobacco, wheat, corn, and cotton, representing the economic foundations of the United States. This motif was intended to provide a distinctly American aesthetic compared to European heraldry.

Varieties and technical notes

This 1883 issue was struck exclusively as a proof at the Philadelphia Mint, characterized by a reeded edge and mirror-like fields. Collectors should examine the strike quality of the feathers in the headdress and the fine details of the agricultural wreath for full definition. Given the low mintage, die polishing marks and exact alignment of the date within the wreath are key diagnostic features for authenticating these specimens.

Survival and modern availability

With a verified mintage of only 89 individual pieces, the 1883 three-dollar gold proof is a significant rarity in the American numismatic census. The survival rate is relatively high among these proof specimens as they were sold directly to collectors rather than released into general circulation. However, the total population remains extremely constrained, making any surviving example a high-tier asset for specialized gold series collectors.

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