1873 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle, Closed 3 PCGS MS61

Attractive piece in the Classic PCGS Old Green Holder!

Here’s a great collectible from AUCM to add to your collection. With a mintage of 49,280, this interesting variety is scarce. PCGS has graded 47 as MS61 with 51 finer. Collectors Universe prices this variety at $2,100.00 in MS61.

How can you tell if a coin has a Closed 3? David Akers writes, “The 1873 Closed 3 is much more rare than generally believed, particularly in high grade. The Closed 3 variety can be distinguished from the Open 3 variety in that the knobs on the ends of the 3 on the Closed 3 are of approximately the same size and so close together that on first glance the 3 looks like an 8. On the Open 3, the top knob is smaller and more oval and further away from the rounder bottom knob.”

Closed/Open 3 date comparison on the Liberty Head $5 half eagle. Photo: PCGS Coinfacts.