Description

This 20.5 mm three-dollar coin features Liberty wearing a feathered headdress of equal-sized plumes with a band bearing LIBERTY in raised letters in the center of the obverse. Such a headdress dates back to the earliest known drawings of American Indians—French artist Jacques le Moyne du Morgue’s sketches of the Florida Timucua tribe who lived near the tragic French colony of Fort Caroline in 1562. It was accepted by engravers and medalists of the day as the design shorthand for “America.” Liberty is surrounded by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA following the edge. The reverse depicted a wreath of tobacco, wheat, corn and cotton with a plant at top bearing two conical seed masses. Encircled by the wreath is the denomination "3 DOLLARS 1862" aligned vertically. The original purpose of the Three-Dollar Gold piece was to facilitate the purchase of sheets of stamps. This is one of sixteen different coins that were minted and placed into circulation during the administration of President Abraham Lincoln. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum