The Philadelphia Mint produced just 3,500 circulation strikes of this scarce denomination in 1870, survivors of which are rare and seldom offered in any grade. Fewer than 300 are believed extant, most of which are lightly circulated EF and AU coins obtained from the reserves of banks and bullion brokers by numismatic dealers during the early 20th century. With a mere 25 to 30 Mint State coins extant (per Bowers and Winter, 2005), the 1870 is a greater condition rarity than even such other challenging three-dollar gold issues from its era as the 1868 and 1871.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the D. Brent Pogue Part III Auction, where it realized $34,075.