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The $3 gold piece, authorized by Congress on February 21, 1853, made its debut in 1854. Mint
records reveal that on April 28, 1854, in advance of the regular coinage, 15 Proof coins were sent
by James Ross Snowden to the secretary of the Treasury. Regular coinage was accomplished
continuously from 1854 to 1889 at Philadelphia, while other specimens were struck only in
specific years at Dahlonega, New Orleans and San Francisco mints. After the first several years
$3 pieces lost favor with the public, with the result that examples struck later did not circulate to
any significant extent. Due to the relatively low mintages throughout the entire series, no $3
pieces are plentiful. All are considered scarce.
In 1879 and 1880 pattern $4 gold pieces, called stellas from the five-pointed star design on the
reverse, were struck. Two types were produced, the Flowing Hair style by Charles E. Barber
(copying a design made by his father William for a pattern $5 of 1878), and the Coiled Hair design
by George T. Morgan.
The mintage of the 1879 Coiled Hair, 1880 Flowing Hair, and 1880 Coiled Hair pieces is not known
with certainty but is estimated to be less than two dozen pieces of each variety.
records reveal that on April 28, 1854, in advance of the regular coinage, 15 Proof coins were sent
by James Ross Snowden to the secretary of the Treasury. Regular coinage was accomplished
continuously from 1854 to 1889 at Philadelphia, while other specimens were struck only in
specific years at Dahlonega, New Orleans and San Francisco mints. After the first several years
$3 pieces lost favor with the public, with the result that examples struck later did not circulate to
any significant extent. Due to the relatively low mintages throughout the entire series, no $3
pieces are plentiful. All are considered scarce.
In 1879 and 1880 pattern $4 gold pieces, called stellas from the five-pointed star design on the
reverse, were struck. Two types were produced, the Flowing Hair style by Charles E. Barber
(copying a design made by his father William for a pattern $5 of 1878), and the Coiled Hair design
by George T. Morgan.
The mintage of the 1879 Coiled Hair, 1880 Flowing Hair, and 1880 Coiled Hair pieces is not known
with certainty but is estimated to be less than two dozen pieces of each variety.
Three and Four Dollars (1854-1889)
THREE and FOUR DOLLAR
