1854-D $3 gold coin

My friend came over today and a bunch of silver coins with him. There were IKE's, Keneddy's(64's), and walking liberty and franklin half dollars. There were also roosevelt dimes(about 45) and Washington quarter.
But the kickers were:
1) A 1854D $3 gold coin.
2) A 1854D $2 1/2 gold coin
3) A 1853 $1 gold coin

He wanted me to find out what each coin might be worth. Well we checked the Black book for ballpark numbers and I got really excited. This is way, way out of my league. But Like a jerk I'm taking a stab at them.

I know now that finding a genuine 1854D three gold coin is like finding the proverbial ' king solomon's mine/s'.

After studying this coin and reading up on it I have a 60% belief that it is genuine. I neede all the help I can get to make an educated guess. I don't have a weight scale for coins yet but will try and get one ASAP.
Also a good book on these gold coins wouldn't hurt. If my scans are good enough maybe you all can fill me up with your opinions. This just can't be happening to me.
Their history is that my friend's aging relative gave them to his wife. Hwas a longtime collector.

 

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Here are some much bigger scans. OPINIONS PLEASE. zeke

 

A couple of key points from Doug Winter's second edition, Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint 1838-1861:

STRIKE ... The border is much softer than the center. The U (UNITED) is always weak. TED is heavy and doubled. The denticles from 7-3 o'clock are so weak as to appear nonexistent. The reverse center is sharp with good wreath detail. The denticles are almost always weak and can usually be seen only from the 3-8 o'clock area with the rest of the border very flat.

Other diagnostics: On obv. there is always a prominent clash mark at Liberty's throat and another directlyt behind the headdress. On the rev. there are clash marks in the wreath. The right bow knot is separated as the result of die polish as is the leaf to the left of the 1 in the date. These are found on all genuine examples, even well worn ones.

DIE VARIETIES. Only one is known. The date is low and even. The 5 and 4 touch. The mintmark is large and high with a slight downward tilt to the right. It appears that the mintmark is the same as one used on one of the 1854-D half eagle varieties.

MY PERSONAL OPINION. If the weight checks out on this piece (about 5.0 gm minus a little bit for wear), I think it's a winner. While some of the diagnostics I cannot clearly see in the photo, nothing that I do see leads me to think it's bogus. The 1854-D is in extremely strong demand as a first-year branch mint issue. It's also the only D-mint three dollar gold. You definitely need to weigh it and send it in to NGC or PCGS. I think it's about a VF35. DON'T CLEAN IT! Good luck!

George

 

Giorgio11, WHEW! Your making more excited. I read the exact same Doug Winter article about the 1854-D. I checked all the areas he mentioned and they were there. Thank you for your positive input.
This is quite an educational trip for me. I am, a Lincoln cent casual collector but am getting exposed to the most rarest coins. As D. Winter stated" Not very many collectors have ever even heard of the Dahlonega Mint." Here are scans of the $2 1/2 gold coin.

 

This is not a 1854 D the D you are seeing stands for "Dollars" this is a Philadelphia mint coin. The mintmark would be above the "2 1/2" and below the eagles claws.

As for the $3. It looks like it might have a fighting chance. I know that the weak denticles and rims are known for some of the earlier D mint coins. But some counterfeits show these as well. I'd have it authenticated.

 

Thanks LD. Yeah, I just now spotted that after looking at it for the tenth time or so. I really appreciate your input. Who'da guessed that I would come in contact with coins such as these. Being a CT member for a while really helps staying grounded and not going off the deep end. There's a lot to learn here and you guys are helping me. Boy, that sounds patronizing but it's the truth.
Next coin: This one has all kinds of character. It's clean except for the verdigras?? green stuff on the bow of the reverse. It looks like someone tried to clen it and did a really bad job. Rats, that stinks on ice!

 

The green stuff is PVC. A good soak in acetone and a wash in distilled water will cure that right away.

The second and third coins you posted are no doubt original coins. I like the $3 as an original too but I haven't handled enough original Dahlonega $3's to be a thousand percent sure. I only know what I have read and have experienced from the few I have gotten to handle.

 

Wow. Thanks for sharing this. As others have said, there's no way to say that $3 is legit from here but it sure looks like it has a chance. It seems to meet the diagnostic criteria. I'd send it to NGC immediately. $30 and you can have it back in about a week.

For anyone wondering about the significance of this $3 gold piece..... If it's real, it has a legitimate shot at being worth well into 5 digit range. It's in excellent shape. No bag marks, nicks, scratches...etc. This is a very rare find for someone to have no idea what it was. I would think this one would be highly desirable. Best of luck with it.

The other ones look pretty nice as well. Lucky guy.

 

That's quite a find. I would have them authenticated/graded.

 

Is authentication and grading all done with the same order? I have only done two Lincoln cents at least a year ago.

 

Yeah. If it's fake it'll be bagged. You'll know it. If it slabs, you're good to go.

 

Oh yeah, if it ain't authentic, it ain't gonna get a grade......

 

Well let's go for the gusto and get ready to ship this three coin off to NGC Iif it weighs correctly. You CT'ers will be the first to know either way on all three goldies. I tell ya' that $1 one is so small and cute. Even if they don't weigh okay I'll tell my friend to just hang on to them for posterity 's sake.
Ordered the scale tonight. It's nothing much but should easily dpo the job.
It's a Jenson JS-150 digital readout. You know I don't even know if I need a calibration weight which I didn't order.
Also what are the allowable variances for these coins. I hope my friend has a good micrometer so the diameters can be checked. Since they're his coins he has tyo spring for everything $$$!! Ok I'll stay in touch. zeke

 

Received my coin scale about 1 1/2 hrs ago. Unpacked it and let it get used to the room temp. Then checked the factory calibration(100grams). Didn't get the weight so I measured eight '64' Keneddys(12.5grms ea) one at a time. Some read 12.5, acouple 12.6, a couple 12.4grms. All eight read 100.0. This is good. Then I checked nickels, then dimes. then quarters. Every thing seemed to be measuring okay so here's what I measured :
1854D -----$3 gold coin = 5.0grams book says 5.015 grams.
1854 ----- $2 1/2 gold coin = 4.2grams book says 4.18 grams
1853------- $1 gold coin =1.7grams book says 1.672grams

I think these coins are legit in being the correct weight. Scale accurracy is only to .1grams. My mistake. Should have gooten the one with .01gram accuracy. I just might exchage this one for the more accurate one.
OKAY let's have your opinions. Thanks very much. --zeke---

 

I think they're worth pulling the trigger on sending 'em in to a TPG'er Zeke...

 

No need for more accuracy -- the scale you've used is fine.

As for my opinion -- it hasn't changed. The coins looked real to my eye, and I think you should send them to a TPG (NGC or PCGS) to have them authenticated/graded....Mike

 

Send them in to NGC or PCGS and then wait. Good luck.

 

well let me ask for some advice. It seems after looking at the NGC site that there is only one way to submit the $3 coin because of its proble value being over 10K. That's the $139 walk thru. What am I not understanding?

 

If you dont want them, you can give them to me......LOL

 

What does this mean? Did you read the whole thread?