By Mark Ferguson - COIN VALUES

A select few collectors take up collecting the Indian Head gold $3 coin series. It is possible for those of average means to collect this series, but it would take a very long time to form a complete collection because of availability and because of the coins’ costs. However, design type collectors who include gold coins as part of their collections normally want just one example of a gold $3 coin.

The 1878 coin is by far the most common date of the series and it is what most type coin collectors purchase. However, the 1854 Indian Head gold $3 coin, the first in this series, and the 1874 issue are close seconds. Mintages for these three issues are by far the highest of the series, but the highest survivorship has been the 1878 date, even though its mintage is less than that of the 1854.