1873 $10 Liberty Head Eagle, Closed 3 PCGS VF30 - original mintage of 800-!!

Only 30-35 examples known today (per PCGS)!

Doug Winter writes, “All 1873 eagles (business strikes and Proofs) are found with a Closed 3 in the date. All other Philadelphia gold coins from this year are found with both an Open 3 and Closed 3 variety. A total of 800 business strikes were produced along with 25 Proofs. There are an estimated 25-35 examples known.”

The Philadelphia Mint struck a small business-strike production of only 800 Liberty head eagles in 1873, with all of those coins all being delivered in January, before the Mint switched to the ‘Open 3’ design in the date. The small mintage was due to there being little commercial demand for eagles in the Eastern United States, for the general public had become acquainted to using more convenient paper money during the Civil War. Plus the government did not resume specie payments at par until 1879.

PCGS has graded a single piece as VF30, with 21 finer. Collectors Universe gives this issue a price of $20,000.00 in VF30.

The Second Philadelphia Mint, where this great rarity was struck in 1873. Photo: Library of Congress.