1870 Three-Dollar Gold Piece. AU-58 (PCGS).Lustrous Choice AU surfaces support a bold to sharp strike and vivid reddish-orange patina. The 1870 three-dollar gold piece is a challenging issue to locate in all grades; a small mintage of just 3,500 circulation strikes suffered a high rate of attrition. A find for the astute collector of classic U.S. Mint gold coinage.