Masterpiece certainly doesn't deserve a spot among the top 10. In making this list I've thought a bit about my ranking of the card and I certainly believe it is a very good $3-cost card. It is unique in the $3 cost cards in that it is the only treasure and that apart from Masquerade it is really the only card that is really good for BM (although Masquerade is also phenomenal in engines). That makes it really hard to rate against the other cards. This is making me want to have compartmentalized lists for things like Engine, BM and Slog. That could allow more niche cards to be rated solely in an area where they shine more rather than have these lists where people may be putting emphasis more on a particular deck archetype.
I think Masterpiece deserves to be in the top 10 of the $3 cost cards. I put it at #8.
A game I played last night reminded me of shark_bait's post. My record is quite good with this card -- I kind of hope everyone else keeps under-rating it! Of my last 20 online games where Masterpiece appeared, it was purchased in 12 games; I purchase it in 10 of the games. I won 7 of those 10. Of the three I lost, one was very close and one was a 3 player mirror match and one was a two-player mirror match. Of the two in which I didn't purchase it, one time was correct (and I won without it), and the other time was questionable (but I won). In reverse-chronological order:
1.
Polk5440 def. No Pawns Intended and Bella Cullen. I buy
only Silvers, Masterpiece, and green against two Rebuilders and win convincingly.
2.
Polk5440 def. vogue. Colony, Menagerie game. Vogue buys Masterpiece (a mistake) and loses.
3.
Polk5440 def. Wandering Winder. Soothsayer/Masterpiece mirror match.
4.
Polk5440 def. TheMirrorMan.. Masterpiece-Feodum-Monument almost-mirror where the only difference was my Explorer to his Hunting Grounds, Trading Post, and Talisman. I win the Silver split.
5.
Polk5440 def. Kirian. Masterpiece-Scavenger vs. Knights and Graverobber. Colony game. Masterpiece rushing Provinces wins convincingly.
6.
No Pawns Intended def. Bella Cullen and Polk5440. Masquerade, Masterpiece, and Hoard mirror.
7.
lightbulb def. Polk5440. Chapel, Lighthouse, Stonemason, Masquerade, Masterpiece, Swindler, Gardens, Remodel, Salvager, Worker's Village, Young Witch. A pretty interesting game where Masterpiece was the bane; I lose by one point. I am not sure how my turn 8 and 9 Masterpiece buys rate.
8.
Polk5440 def. frankdom. Essentially Masterpiece-Jack of All Trades for me versus Knights. Masterpiece-Jack wins convincingly.
9.
Polk5440 def. No Pawns Intended and Bella Cullen. They rely on Masterpiece to get a few silvers into Grand Markets. I go crazy with Sage-Border Village-Couting House-Coppersmith. I win, but only because No Pawns Intended played kingmaker at the end. But it was very close.
10.
Polk5440 def. Perry Green. Crossroads, Masterpiece, Smugglers, Warehouse, Baron, Gardens, Ironmonger, Mine, Royal Seal, Saboteur. Often, I go with Masterpiece buys on $4; he avoids them. I win.
11.
Polk5440 def. Perry Green.. Here I buy Masterpiece on $4 to beef up Fairgrounds midgame. Not that important. But it was an interesting Rebuild game!
12.
Erazure def. Polk5440. Masquerade-Masterpiece mirror match.
In summary, Masterpiece is good when you want lots of silvers or lots of cards. It's a great defense against Knights, great with Feodum, great as a quick infusion of cash.
Edited counts.