The 1876 is the second-rarest Philadelphia Mint issue in the entire three-dollar gold series. Federal records indicate that a mere 45 coins were struck in 1876, all in Proof format. Among numismatic scholars, however, there is speculation that a few additional specimens were prepared and not recorded. John W. Dannreuther (2018) concludes that at least four different striking periods occurred, based on die rotations for the two known varieties.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the D. Brent Pogue Part III Auction, where it realized $82,250.