1870-S $3 Gold Tribute – 1 Troy Ounce .999 Fine Silver
A Silver Tribute to a $5.52 Million Numismatic Legend
The 1870-S $3 Gold Tribute brings one of America’s most elusive coin designs to a one-troy-ounce silver round from Intaglio Mint. The historic gold coin exists today as a single confirmed example known to collectors—a rarity whose story combines a San Francisco cornerstone, a hand-cut mintmark, and some of the greatest collections ever assembled.
This modern tribute celebrates that extraordinary history in .999 fine silver. Its reverse replaces the original denomination with “1 TROY OUNCE,” pairing the familiar 1870 date and S mintmark with a clear statement of the tribute’s precious-metal weight.
The Original Coin: A Rarity Built Into History
James Barton Longacre designed the three-dollar gold denomination, issued from 1854 through 1889. His portrait of Liberty wears a feathered headdress, while the reverse features an agricultural wreath. The unusual denomination gives the design a distinctive place among America’s nineteenth-century gold coins.
The 1870-S story centers on the cornerstone ceremony for the second San Francisco Mint on May 25, 1870. Contemporary correspondence records that the supplied reverse die lacked an S mintmark. Coiner Joseph B. Harmstead cut the letter into the die so a three-dollar piece could be prepared for the cornerstone. The reported cornerstone coin has not been recovered and authenticated; the example available to collectors remains the only confirmed survivor.
A Record Auction—and an Unsolved Mystery
On January 5, 2023, Heritage Auctions sold the Harry W. Bass Jr. example for $5,520,000, including the buyer’s premium, setting an auction record for a three-dollar gold coin. Graded PCGS Specimen 50, it was a centerpiece of the Bass collection, which had been displayed at the American Numismatic Association’s Money Museum.
The original is remarkable for more than its price. It bears traces of former jewelry use and the crudely engraved digits “893.” Their meaning remains uncertain. Its ownership history includes William H. Woodin, Louis E. Eliasberg Sr., and Harry W. Bass Jr.—names closely associated with the pursuit of America’s greatest coin rarities.
Obverse Design
A left-facing Liberty portrait dominates the obverse, her flowing hair and feathered headdress framed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A border of closely spaced denticles completes the composition, preserving the formal character of the historic design.
Reverse Design
An elaborate agricultural wreath encloses 1 TROY OUNCE and the date 1870. A ribbon ties the wreath at its base, with the S beneath it recalling the San Francisco original. The inscription .999 FINE SILVER • INTAGLIO MINT identifies the metal and maker of this modern tribute.
Product Specifications
- Weight: 1 troy ounce
- Metal: .999 fine silver
- Mint: Intaglio Mint
- Design: Tribute to the 1870-S three-dollar gold coin
- Format: Privately minted silver round; no legal-tender face value
Why Collect This Tribute?
The original belongs to the rarest reaches of American numismatics. This silver interpretation offers a tangible way to appreciate its artistry: the expressive portrait, balanced wreath, and small S that connects the design to a remarkable chapter in San Francisco Mint history. It is an appealing addition for collectors of historic coin designs and Intaglio Mint silver rounds alike.
The auction record and historical rarity described above refer to the original 1870-S gold coin, not this modern silver tribute.
Explore the History
Read more at PCGS CoinFacts, in Intelligent Collector’s auction report, and in Heritage Auctions’ original lot description. For the denomination’s design and dates, see Stack’s Bowers’ three-dollar gold reference.
