The D. Brent Pogue Collection 1872 $3 is a visually stunning deep orange-gold, prooflike specimen; indeed, this could easily have passed as a Proof during the early decades of collecting in America. The devices are frosty and the fields are reflective mirrors with no grainy texture present. The luster is especially rich. Pale violet highlights adorn the design high points. The strike, as usual, has a trace of lightness in Liberty’s tresses and at the reverse bow. Some cross-hatched raised die polish lines appear on both sides; these probably faded as the die was used. Marks of any nature are at an absolute minimum, though the few that are present deserve description. The obverse reveals some tiny ticks at the U in UNITED and other small marks on Liberty’s neck and jawline. The entire production run of 2,000 circulation strikes was delivered by the coiner on February 2. As is true of nearly all of the $3 coins in the D. Brent Pogue Collection, opportunity is the key word here. By 1872 the $3 denomination had become all but meaningless in commerce. No $3s had been seen in circulation in the East and Midwest for over 10 years, and with no mintage in the denomination forthcoming from San Francisco since 1860, the small amount of $3s seen there in circulation were typically well-worn older dates. The Philadelphia Mint continued to make small quantities of circulation strikes each year as they were often purchased, at a premium if using paper money, for holiday and birthday gifts and by numismatists. In the early part of the 20th century Thomas Elder and others sought $3 coins from bank tellers and other sources. Elder’s efforts made him the primary source of quality pieces for many collectors. PCGS# 7994. NGC ID: 25MV.
