The 1878 $3 gold piece is one of the most commonly counterfeited gold coins. Even though there are numerous counterfeits of this date in existence from varying dies, knowing the characteristics of the genuine piece will remove any questions as to authenticity.

Two pairs of dies were used in 1878 for the business strike $3 pieces. The first one is identifiable by two lumps that appear on the face, one behind the eye and another at the bottom of the neck near the hair lock. These lumps can transfer(!) in the counterfeiting process and have been seen in a degraded state on forgeries.

The reverse of one genuine variety exhibits short, crisp, raised vertical lines inside the bow of the wreath. Counterfeits have not been seen where duplication of these lines is successful.

The second genuine obverse can be identified by a raised "horseshoe" which is visible between the "E" and "R" of LIBERTY. To date, this feature has not been seen on any counterfeits, perhaps because of how thinly raised it is.

DID YOU KNOW?

All business strike 1891 $2 1/2 gold pieces are doubled die reverses