HomeAuctionsHeritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: SS Central America 1857-S $3 Gold...

Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: SS Central America 1857-S $3 Gold Coin

Although recoveries from the SS Central America more than doubled the number of Mint State 1857-S three dollar gold pieces known, just 11 examples are currently shown in Uncirculated grades by both PCGS and NGC combined. This PCGS-graded MS61 coin that we are offering in our July 11-14 Summer FUN Signature Auction is one of only eight Mint State pieces certified by PCGS. Just 14,200 pieces were struck, nearly all of which were released into circulation and used extensively in West Coast trade.

This yellow-gold example of the $3 gold piece retains most of its original semireflective surface on the obverse, while the reverse is lightly frosted across its smooth fields. Both sides show light, hair-thin abrasions and a few tiny marks. A sharp strike weakens only at the highest points of Liberty’s curls, and bright mint luster shines throughout the obverse and reverse.

A pinch of gold dust recovered from the shipwreck occupies one of the dual holder windows, while the back of the holder has the signature of chief scientist and historian of the shipwreck treasure Bob Evans, confirming recovery of the gold dust and $3 gold coin from the site of the Central America. Its box of issue is included.

In Other News

Heritage Auctions has announced a change to its bidding practices that will allow more bidders to pursue items in online auctions.

Effective immediately, the increments in which collectors can bid in Internet absentee bidding will be cut in half. The change will not affect live bidding (including HA.com/Live), in order to save live bidders time by keeping the bidding in live sessions moving at a brisk pace.

“This change will benefit both buyers and sellers,” Heritage Auctions Co-Founder Jim Halperin said. “Cutting in half the size of bid increments will increase the confidence and aggressiveness of buyers who are unsure about increasing a bid, and it benefits the sellers by making more clients more likely to leave a proxy bid on a wider array of available lots.”

The change is significant for Heritage Auctions, as approximately 60% of Heritage Auctions’ 2018 sales were conducted online. With more than 40 categories of art, jewelry, collectibles, and other valuable objects, Heritage Auctions is the largest auction house founded in the United States and the world’s leading collectibles auctioneer.

Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctionshttps://www.ha.com/
Heritage Auction Galleries is one of the world's largest collectibles auctioneers. Besides offering rare and valuable U.S. and world coins and currency, Heritage offers ancient coins, exonumia, antiques, comic books, sports memorabilia, and many other collectibles. The firm is based in Dallas, Texas.

Related Articles

2 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Park Avenue Numismatics Gold and Silver Bullion

J Durham Coin Auctions

Doug Winter Numismatics Branch Mint Gold