UNITED STATES: AV 3 dollars, 1854, KM-84, Indian Princess type, PCGS graded AU53. February 21, 1853 was an important date in the history of American numismatics. Congress enacted legislation to reduce the weight of minor silver coinage, also authorizing the issuance of three dollar gold pieces. Section 7 of the Mint Act of that date read: And be it further enacted, that from time to time there shall be struck and coined at the Mint of the United States, and the branches thereof, conformably in all respects to law, and conformably in all respects to the standard of gold coins now established by law, a coin of gold of the value of three dollars, or units, and all the provisions of an act entitled An act to authorize the coinage of gold dollars and double eagles, approved March third, eighteen hundred and forty nine, shall be applied to the coin herein authorized, so far as the same may be applicable, but the devices and shape of the three dollar piece shall be fixed by Secretary of the Treasury. The first year of production for circulation was in 1854.
