Week Eight

 

Coin of the Week: $3 Gold Coin

In 1854, a new problem came up for the U.S. Mint. Stamps.

At the time, postage was still relatively cheap; only 3 cents. How could you pay for a stamp with the coins of the day? Well, you could pay in three large cents (about the size of a half dollar), or 6 half cents (about the size of a quarter), or you could pay them a silver half dime, and receive 2 large cents or 4 half cents in change. Boy, is that a lot to remember! Then, out of the ashes and shambles rises the answer: the three cent coin!

But wait, stamps are usually bought on sheets of 100 (600 half cents, 300 large cents, 60 half dimes, 30 dimes, 12 quarters, 6 half dollars, or three silver dollars). Arrrgh! What now?

Hey, what if we make another coin, with a $3 face value! That’ll make it a lot easier!

And so the three dollar coin was born. This gold coin is odd, as $3 does not fit into the standard eagle pattern (quarter eagle; $2.50, half eagle; $5, eagle; $10, etc.).But it was produced from 1854 until 1889, and saw very little circulation. The rarest of them all is the 1870 S-minted; only one is known to exist. The $3 coin shows Lady Liberty on the front wearing an Indian headdress, and on the back it shows a wreath made of cotton, wheat, corn, and tobacco. All coins are rare, and don’t expect to pay less than $150 for one.

$3 Gold Coin

 

Wonderful World: Liberian Commemoratives

In 2000-2002, Liberia Produced Some of my favorite commemoratives ever. They celebrated all of those years of American coinage by creating almost the exact designs of some of the most famous American coins ever. They include: (Pictures shown in order)

Coiled Hair Stella, Flowing Hair Stella, Amazon Silver, Amazon Gold, Schoolgirl Dollar, Saint-Gaudens Standing Liberty, Indian Head Eagle, Indian Head Quarter Eagle, Trade Dollar, Morgan Dollar, Barber Coins, Peace Dollar, Seated Liberty Coins, and Standing Liberty Quarter.

 

 

Making a Mint: Foreign Coins Made By The U.S. Mint

The U.S. Mint was struggling to produce enough coin for the U.S.A. itself in it’s early years. But over the course of history, it has produced coins for several other countries, including the Philippines, Liberia, Australia, Canada, Hawaii, and more. I’m no expert on this subject, but I was able to find some good pictures. For more information, please visit:

www.pdxcoinclub.org/articles/ForeignCoins

Liberia Large Cent Made in the U.S.A.

 

Hawaii Half Dollar Made in the U.S.A.

 

Philippines One Peso Made in the U.S.A.