1870 Three Dollar Patterns

About This Coin

Produced at the Philadelphia Mint under Chief Engraver William Barber, the 1870 Three Dollar Patterns belong to the Standard Silver Patterns series exploring a proposed reduced-weight silver dollar standard. These experimental pieces tested whether a lighter silver coin could maintain public confidence while conserving bullion during post-Civil War monetary uncertainty. The obverse features experimental portrait and allegorical designs departing from established Liberty Head motifs, while the reverse showcased various eagle and wreath compositions. The three-dollar denomination was already considered an oddity — authorized in 1854 primarily to facilitate purchasing sheets of three-cent stamps — and its inclusion in the 1870 pattern program suggests Mint officials were evaluating whether the denomination merited continuation under a revised silver standard. A notable auction result of $26K in PR65 grade at Stack's Bowers demonstrates strong collector demand for these scarce trial pieces.