1874 $3 Indian Princess Three Dollar NGC MS61

A favorite of collectors for well over a century, the Indian Princess design is absolutely stunning. This issue, the 1874, is a popular type coin, and is one of a trio of coins usually selected for a short type set along with the 1854 and 1878 $3 pieces. Notably, of the three issues the mintage of the 1874 (41,800) is only around half of that of the 1878 and around one-third of the 1854.

It is interesting to note that the ‘74’ in the date is noticeably sharper than that ‘18’, a distinguishing element of this issue that is due to an unevenly entered logotype into the working die. NGC has graded 335 examples of the 1874 $3 as MS61 with 435 finer. Collectors Universe gives this issue a price of $3,250.00 in MS61.

The Second Philadelphia Mint, where this beauty was produced in 1874. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.