Deep yellow-gold with sunset-orange iridescence here and there characterizes this superb gem. A bright light source brings forth pale blue and olive highlights. The strike is fairly bold with only a hint of weakness at the reverse bow. The dies clashed at least twice before this specimen was struck as witnessed by the double outlines on both sides. The present gem Uncirculated $3 offers near-perfect beauty and physical quality. Search as we might with an 8X loupe, we detect no marks of any substance on the obverse. The same holds true for the reverse where just a tiny planchet disturbance is noted in the dentils at 12:00, mentioned for accuracy and probably in the planchet when struck. The mintage for the date was 5,000 circulation strikes, all of which were delivered by the coiner in one batch on November 21. Perhaps 175 to 250 examples of the date can be found in all grades today, and no doubt some of them are problem pieces. VF and EF coins are available to those who seek them but are scarce overall. AU pieces are scarcer yet, and true Mint State coins are rare with perhaps 30 to 40 pieces known in all grades. This impressive $3 is one of only three examples of the entire denomination to receive the Mint State-68 designation from PCGS, a threesome that also includes an 1854 and an 1867; no Proofs of the denomination of any date have received a 68 rating. This beauty is the only MS-68 of the date and the finest certified by PCGS, making for a shoo-in for a Registry Set or other world-class $3 cabinet. As near to perfection as one is likely to come in the series, and a lot that will be a focal point of this offering. Again this year as last, the Mint in Philadelphia sent $3 dies to San Francisco though no examples are known to have been struck. PCGS# 7984. NGC ID: 25MJ.
