1870-S Gold $1 Type 3 PCGS MS64 CAC+
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Introduction
The 1870-S Gold $1 Type 3 PCGS MS64 CAC+ is an exceptional premium-certified example of one of the scarcer late-issue U.S. gold dollars. With its outstanding surfaces, sharp definition, and the highly selective CAC+ designation, this piece represents the upper tier of surviving examples from the San Francisco Mint. Collectors seeking a rare, high-grade Type 3 gold dollar with superior eye appeal will find this coin to be an outstanding opportunity.
History
Gold dollars were introduced in 1849 in response to the influx of California gold and remained in production through 1889. The Type 3 design, introduced in 1856, featured enlarged and more deeply defined details to improve strike quality. By 1870, gold dollar production had declined dramatically, making later issues notably scarce.
Struck at the San Francisco Mint, the 1870-S gold dollar is one of the most desirable mintmarked issues of the era. Limited production, heavy circulation in Western commerce, and low survival rates in Mint State make high-grade examples extremely challenging to acquire today. A PCGS MS64 piece alone is elite—paired with CAC+, this coin ranks among the finest available.
Design
The obverse features James B. Longacre’s Indian Princess portrait with a feathered headdress, surrounded by slender, elegant lettering. The sharply engraved details of the Type 3 design stand out beautifully on this premium specimen.
The reverse displays the denomination 1 DOLLAR encircled by a wreath, with the date below. San Francisco’s distinct mintmark—S—appears just below the wreath. Lustrous surfaces and crisp detail enhance the overall presentation, emphasizing why this example earned both the MS64 grade and the coveted CAC+ approval.
| Mint | San Francisco |
|---|---|
| Metal | Gold |
| Year | 1870 |
| Fineness | .900 |
| Diameter | 15 mm |
| Weight | 1.672 |
A LITTLE STICKER MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
Within each number of the coin grading scale is a small range of condition from low-end to high-end. Certified coins of the same grade can be of varying quality. Many of today’s collectors want coins that are solid or premium quality for their assigned grade. CAC holds coins to a higher standard so you can be confident in the value of yours. We verify previously graded coins … and award our sticker only to those coins that meet the standard for today’s selective buyer.
WHAT THE CAC STICKER MEANS:
- Verified. Your coin has been verified as meeting the standard for strict quality within its grade.
- Guaranteed. CAC stands behind our verification.
THE CAC STICKER IS BACKED BY EXPERIENCE.
CAC was founded by leading members of the numismatic community, including John Albanese, a respected authority on coin grading and the rare coin market.
