1857 $3 Indian Princess Head "Bender Collection" PCGS PR64 DCAM

The 1857 $3 Indian Princess Head gold piece represents a fascinating chapter in American numismatic history. Designed by James B. Longacre and struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this coin belongs to a short-lived series produced from 1854 to 1889. It was an unusual denomination conceived partly to facilitate the purchase of sheets of postage stamps (100 three-cent stamps for $3) and to complement the small silver three-cent coins in circulation at the time.

Obverse: The crowned king stands facing beneath a Gothic canopy, holding a scepter and a globus cruciger. Fleur-de-lis motifs flank the figure, reinforcing the divine right of kingship and association with France.

Reverse: A cross fleurée sits within a quatrefoil tressure, with fleur-de-lis and rosettes occupying the surrounding angles, encapsulating the religious authority and heraldic beauty emblematic of French medieval coinage.

Most critically, this issue has an extremely small mintage. Official records indicate only 5 proofs were struck in 1857, though some modern research suggests perhaps up to a dozen may have been produced, including possible restrikes. Regardless of the exact figure, this stands as one of the lowest proof mintages of any U.S. coin denomination, making it an extraordinary rarity.