have an opportunity to buy an 1854 S $3. i would say its in "Good" condition but the only delay is that it has been used as jewelry so it has a filled hole near the bottom. can i get a ballpark? thanks alot!!
San Francisco did not mint $3 coins in 1854 so I would assume the coin is counterfeit. I would not pay any more than the gold content (if any). BTW, the Red Book lists all Federal coinage. When buying $3 gold or any other heavily counterfeited coin (or any coin for that matter) you should first look it up in the Red Book to make sure that coin was actually minted. If it is not in the Red Book it is probably fake.
Well, that's different, isn't it? 1856-S is not a key date but it commands a very slight premium over common dates. Grey Sheet for an 1856-S $3 is $725 in VF and $700 for a generic $3 in VF. (VF is the lowest grade they list.) Melt is $199 (actually slightly less for the gold lost due to the hole). Being a genuine (I assume it is genuine) $3 gold piece is worth something but it is still a damaged coin (holed, former jewelry) and very worn. You may be able to have the hole repaired but I don't think it would be worth it for this very worn example. I would pass (unless I could buy it for close to melt).
thanks!! i wasn't sure if damaged coins lowered value to a collector THAT much, but apparently so. this was helpful i appreciate the info
