1856-S $3

1857-S $3

1857 $3 (Regular Strike)

Series: Indian Princess $3 1854-1889

PCGS MS66

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PCGS MS65+

PCGS MS65

PCGS #:: 7976

Designer:: James Barton Longacre

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 20.50 millimeters

Weight:: 5.02 grams

Mintage:: 20,891

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $52,875 • MS65+ • 05-26-2022 • Legend Rare Coin Auctions

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Major Varieties

1857 $3

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	1,250	R-4.9	29 / 41 TIE	29 / 41 TIE
60 or Better	150	R-7.5	25 / 41 TIE	25 / 41 TIE
65 or Better	2	R-9.9	6 / 41 TIE	6 / 41 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	1,250
60 or Better	150
65 or Better	2

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-4.9
60 or Better	R-7.5
65 or Better	R-9.9

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	29 / 41 TIE
60 or Better	25 / 41 TIE
65 or Better	6 / 41 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	29 / 41 TIE
60 or Better	25 / 41 TIE
65 or Better	6 / 41 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Simpson Collection
2	MS65+ PCGS grade	Great Lakes Collection
3	MS65 PCGS grade
3	MS65 estimated grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade	College Collection, Part Two - Heritage 8/2015:4318, $14,100
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Simpson Collection

#2 MS65+ PCGS grade

Great Lakes Collection

#3 MS65 PCGS grade

#3 MS65 estimated grade

#5 MS64 PCGS grade

College Collection, Part Two - Heritage 8/2015:4318, $14,100

#5 MS64 PCGS grade

Ron Guth:

David Akers based his analysis of gold coins on the number of times they appeared at auction and they grades in which they were listed. Let's compare his findings with what we know from the current PCGS Population Report listings.

It turns out the 1857 is considerably rarer overall than the 1854-O, and the 1855 turned out to be twice as common as the 1857. Akers' was spot on in comparing the overall rarity of the 1857 to the 1856, and he correctly noted that both the 1854-O and the 1856 were much more difficult to locate in Mint State. The date that "behaves" the closest to the 1857 is actually the 1859 (which has a much lower mintage).

The 1857 $3 appears most frequently in MS63. MS64 examples are rare and anything MS65 or better is extremely rare. The finest example is a PCGS MS66 in the Simpson Collection.

David Akers (1975/88): The 1857 is similar in mintage, overall rarity, and number of auction appearances to the 1854-O and 1856. Most available specimens are well circulated and full mint state examples are rare, more so than the recently touted 1855 or any of the low mintage dates from 1879 to 1889, all of which generally come quite often choice when they are available at all. Some decpetive counterfeits of this year exist. They have the lustrous, unmarked surfaces of a high grade piece, but they lack the sharpness and detail of a genuine specimen. (Unlike the 1856, most 1857's are sharply struck.)