1866 Silver Three-Cent Piece. Proof-68 * (NGC).Deeply toned, with unusually lively charcoal-gray being the predominant color. However, closer inspection reveals pleasing soft rose, blue, and green overtones blended nicely across both sides. Though deeply toned, the mirrors are not subdued to any degree, and the reflectivity therein is striking. One small spot is seen near the rim, just after the word AMERICA. Exceptional eye appeal, nonetheless, and as one of the two highest graded Proofs of the date known to PCGS and NGC, this is a conditionally rare coin in a Proof 1866 silver three-cent piece. Of further significance given that the years circulation strike is a key date issue with just 22,000 coins struck, and also given its previous inclusion in the famous Eugene H. Gardner Collection.PCGS# 3716. NGC ID: 27CC.NGC Census (all categories): 1; 0 finer. The corresponding PCGS Population is also 1/0.From our (Stacks) Minot Collection sale, May 2008, lot 1172; Heritages ANA Signature Auction of July-August 2008, lot 1564; Heritages Los Angeles Signature Auction of August 2009, lot 1040; Heritages sale of the Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part I, June 2014, lot 30125; Heritages FUN Signature Auction of January 2022, lot 3253; Heritages Summer FUN Signature Auction of July 2022, lot 3033.
