By 1872 the three-dollar gold denomination had become all but meaningless in commerce. No $3s had been seen in circulation in the East and Midwest for more than 10 years, and with no mintage in the denomination forthcoming from San Francisco since 1860, the small number of examples seen there in circulation were typically well-worn older dates. The Philadelphia Mint continued to make small quantities of circulation strikes each year as they were often purchased, at a premium if using paper money, for holiday and birthday gifts, as well as by contemporary numismatists. In the early part of the 20th century Thomas L. Elder and others sought three-dollar coins from bank tellers and other sources. Elder's efforts made him the primary source of quality pieces for many collectors but by that time, the coins had been in commerce for at least three decades and most showed wear.

Today, most high grade 1872 three-dollar gold coins can trace their origin to Elder. Two-thirds of the issue are believed extant but, as above, most of the coins acquired by Elder were circulated and only 60 or so are Uncirculated. The majority of those are at the very lowest Mint State levels, and even Choice coins in MS-63 and MS-64 are highly elusive. Gems are so rare that most collectors will go a lifetime without even seeing one.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the Spring 2022 Showcase Auction, where it realized $132,000.