The Indian Princess Three-Dollar Gold Piece was the shortest-lived gold coin denomination circulating for only 35 years from 1854-1889. After the California Gold Rush, Congress authorized three new denominations; the gold dollar, three-dollar gold piece, and a $20 Double Eagle. Designed by U.S. Mint’s Chief Sculptor-Engraver, James Barton Longacre, the Indian Princess dollar and $3 Indian Princess gold piece was a completely different design change from the Liberty gold series. Longacre’s $3 Indian Princess stands apart from any other coins produced by the U.S. Mint as the only $3 coin ever issued and beginning of the Indian design. Longacre wanted to make his design emblematic of the frontier and the American spirit. The obverse shows a Indian Princess wearing a pom-pom feathered headdress with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounding the edge. The reverse displays the denomination and date enclosed within a “Fruits of the Land” wreath. The denomination was to help facilitate the purchase of postage stamps in packs of 100 at 3 cents apiece, but the new design was rejected by the public. Very small mintages of the coin were produced during its short lifespan, making the $3 Indian Princess low mintage very popular with collectors today.

FMV Grades:GOOD-XF40 AU50-MS60 MS61-MS65 MS66-MS70

Grade Abbreviations Numismatic Abbreviations

FMV Prices for Rare Coin Price Guide last updated 10/17/2021

Three Cents – Silver	FMV MS61	FMV MS62	FMV MS63	FMV MS64	FMV MS65
Variety 1
1851	$246	$270	$350	$475	$640
1851 O	$630	$780	$1,170	$1,810	$2,470
1852	$246	$270	$313	$450	$630
1853	$228	$240	$288	$475	$730
Type Var. 1	$228	$240	$288	$450	$630
Variety 2
1854	$480	$510	$770	$1,130	$2,220
1855	$700	$1,000	$1,590	$2,470	$7,440
1856	$336	$450	$650	$1,110	$2,340
1857	$408	$510	$780	$1,590	$3,220
1858	$360	$480	$680	$970	$1,750
Type Var. 2	$336	$450	$650	$970	$1,750
Variety 3
1859	$240	$342	$419	$575	$1,090
1860	$240	$288	$400	$600	$1,720
1861	$270	$342	$425	$630	$910
1862	$264	$312	$400	$550	$1,040
1862/1	$330	$402	$463	$690	$1,210
1863	$1,010	$1,080	$1,590	$2,470	$3,470
1864	$1,240	$1,290	$1,470	$1,780	$2,880
1865	$1,290	$1,590	$2,090	$2,440	$3,440
1866	$1,230	$1,380	$1,690	$2,780	$3,280
1867	$1,500	$1,650	$2,810	$3,940	$10,950
1868	$1,860	$2,070	$2,720	$5,340	$16,580
1869	$1,590	$1,710	$1,940	$3,530	$5,750
1869/8	—	—	—	—	—
1870	$1,260	$1,350	$1,720	$2,530	$5,280
1871	$1,100	$1,120	$1,310	$1,690	$2,030
Three Cents – Silver	FMV MS61	FMV MS62	FMV MS63	FMV MS64	FMV MS65
1872	$2,790	$3,000	$3,720	$4,690	$9,690
Type Var. 3	$240	$288	$400	$550	$910

Grade Abbreviations

General Grading Standards for U.S. Coins

Good (G) – Coin will be heavily worn, but the main design and legend will be visible. Lettering may be worn smooth. May be dull or faded areas.

Very Good (VG) – Still well worn but more of the rim will be evident. Design and legend will be clear but worn flat. Lacks specific details.

Fine (F) – Medium to heavy wear but even overall. The design becomes clearer and details begin to appear. Some letters within the design will be apparent.

Very Fine (VF) – A visibly nicer coin. High spots will show light, even wear. Various major features are visible. Lettering is all readable.

Extra Fine (XF) – Slight wear will show on the highest points of the main devices. Words are sharp and easily readable. All details are clearly defined.

AU 50 – Slight traces of wear on the highest points of the coin; may be dull with some evidence of luster under any toning.

AU 53 – Just slightly better than an AU 50 with a little more luster visible. Eye appeal begins to make a difference between the AU grades.

AU 55 – An obviously nicer coin than an AU 50 with no major difficulties. More luster shines through the surfaces.

AU 58 – This is oftentimes called a slider as it will appear to many observers to be uncirculated. Just the faintest wear on the highest points of the coin. Luster should be quite evident, although some toning can be apparent. Usually coins with poor eye appeal will not make the AU 58 grade.

MS 60 – Mint State indicates a coin that has no wear and is uncirculated. It may have numerous bagmarks and/or be toned. MS 60 is the lowest quality of an uncirculated coin.

MS 61 – An uncirculated coin that is just slightly better than MS 60. However, no question that it is uncirculated. Whereas, some may debate over the merits of a coin being MS60 because of the excessive bagmarks, the MS61 should be more desirable.

MS 62 – This coin should be a much cleaner specimen than an MS 60, yet, just slightly better than an MS 61. There should be fewer bagmarks as the coin takes on more attractive features.

MS 63 – This is the grade that many collectors feel is the most collectible in numismatics. Prices are typically reasonable compared to higher grades and the coin should have at least an average strike and eye appeal, with minimal distracting marks.

MS 64 – This is the grade where prices in many series begin to increase dramatically. For this reason the coin will begin to show fewer marks and the strike will be the strongest yet. No primary distractions that will draw your eye. A near-gem coin with just a few tiny marks or weakness in strike to keep it from a higher grade.

MS 65 – This is the gem category. Coin should be fully struck with eye appeal. Either brilliant or toned but there should not be any unsightly marks or color that negates eye appeal. Any marks should be very minor in appearance. Prices spread out even further.

MS 66 – A coin that just jumps out at you as being nicer than an MS 65. The main devices on either side should have no more than very minor ticks and the fields should be cleaner than that of an MS 65.

MS 67 – A superior coin that has no major distractions to speak of. The fields should be near flawless with just the slightest contact on the main device. This coin should emit a look of satisfaction from the viewer. Prices increase further especially for coins with short supplies and strong demand.

MS 68 – A difficult grade to determine by most experts. When does a coin become MS 68 but is not quite MS69 or 70? A very superior coin with maybe just a minor tick on either side keeping it from perfection.

MS 69 – This is a coin that should create a gasp when viewed. There should be no imperfections to the naked eye. With a magnifying glass a minor mark or impediment may be visible.

MS 70 – A perfect coin with no imperfections seen with a magnifying glass. There should be no marks whatsoever; the coin must look like it just left the Mint. Very unusual in early coins as the mint did not have the quality they do today. Modern coins have been given this exalted grade although there is debate whether coins can be perfect.

As we proceed to higher grades, there should be a noticeable difference in each grade and an improvement in quality, strike, and eye appeal. However, since grading is subjective, it will still be difficult for most numismatists to see a distinct difference from one grade to the next. This is especially so in grades of MS67 and higher.

Any kind of damage or cleaning will downgrade the potential value of a coin.

Three Cents Silver Price Guide

Grade Abbreviations

Numismatic Abbreviations

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