1873 Seated Liberty Half Dollar NA Open 3 CAC
Leeroybrown
Posts: 456 ✭✭✭✭✭
Another new acquisition to the set !!! Now up to 95 of 124…. Less than 30 to go !!!
Would love to see your examples also of this rare variety !!! Please let me know thoughts on this one and post yours as well…
17
Comments
Great looking coin and very rare, with or without a sticker. Congrats.
Great and rare coin, congratulations on acquiring it!
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Mighty nice example! I dunno if I'll ever own one.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I didn't think I'd own one either until I saw this coin on GFRC.
F02 (CAC)
How does the 73 NA Open3 compare with the 70-CC in scarcity? I understand only 100-150 still exist. Is it the next toughest coin after the 78-S, excluding the rare, single-die varieties (47/6)?
Its tougher, IMO 70-cc's seem to pop up more than the rarity ratings suggest. Course there not always nice.
By the way for mid circ grade, barberian, I love your 78-s. I have never owned one, tried a few times bidding over the years but always seem to not bid high enough.
@jdimmick Thanks! I've enjoyed owning the coin, even if I only see it for a few seconds at the bank. I check the rear die marker when I do. The 78-S really took off from the late '90s to the late '00s. Many had trouble catching up with the rapid price growth back then. I question my wisdom in reaching to buy one.
I had hardly considered the 73 NA O3 because of its price until a F02 showed up on GFRC. Leeroy 's coin was a steal, IMO.
Thats a nice 1873 NA closed 3 as well Barberian!! Great coin!!
Any others have any to post?
My example traded several times in the last decade. The piece has great eye appeal. Fortunately (or expertly???) hidden is a gouge in one of the arrows.
I just checked the 1992 SLH survey conducted by the LSCC and reported in Issue #53 of the Gobrecht Journal.
The five scarcest coins reported in SLH collections were:
1) 1878-S (7 examples),
2) 1873 NA O3 (11 examples),
3) 1842-O SD (21 examples),
4) 1840-(O) (23 examples),
5) 1852 (26 examples).
The 55-S was represented by 34 coins. The single DM 1873-S by 40 coins.
I realize that the 73 NA Open 3 is a single die marriage, but only 11 examples suggest the NAO3 may be the next rarest seated half after the 78-S. So does the price.
@Barberian
Very interesting…. I wonder how accurate an assessment from 1992 is for today given the development in social media and technology now…?
I know there are 55 graded by PCGS and 17 graded by NGC (all grades)… 72 graded overall for the 73 NA O3…
1878-S has 33 graded by pcgs/ 14 NGC
1847/6 has 40 graded by pcgs/ 6 NGC
1873 NAO3 has 55 grdd by pcgs/ 17 NGC
Seems like current top 3 rarities in SLHs??
Other low grade pops for pcgs include:
1845-O ND w/ 82 graded… (28 NGC) very surprising
1842-O SD w/ 96 graded… (41 NGC)
1846 6/H6 w/ 100
1846-O TD w/ 110
1844-O DD w/ 114
1855-54 w/ 118
1873-S w/ 124
1852 w/ 134
1855-S w/ 135
Thoughts on that list from the group?
Obviously we are not scratching the surface on condition rarity, but just general overall existing of dates and availability overall.
With a set as large as SLH is just obtaining the dates and mintmarks is difficult to say the least. Going after very challenging varieties as well drops off for many collectors of the series. There are other major varieties in the series that are low in pops ...
1849 50C WB-6, FS-301 Dramatically Doubled Date
PCGS/NGC Pop
12/5
1875-S 50C WB-19 Micro S
PCGS/NGC Pop
11/0
1876 50C Lg/Sm Date FS-301 WB-106
PCGS/NGC Pop
14/1
1877/6 50C Overdate FS-301
PCGS/NGC Pop
12/2
OK, then that places the 73 NA O3 fourth in rarity of my list of coins defining the SLH set. My set consists of coins normally produced and the lettering or design changed as directed by mint or other US authority. That includes the 39 ND, 46 and 46-O TD, Arrows, A&R, No Arrows, Closed 3 and Open 3. It also includes transition coins such as the 42 small date small letters and 53-O No Arrows, but they are off the horizon for now. I add the 1840-(O) to my set because it's a cool mule.
I don't include notorious single die varieties caused by die mishaps, retread dies, etc. such as the 1847/6, 1846 6/H6, 1844-O DD, even the 55/54. Those coins are ancillary to my main set, though my 55 is a 55/54. I see 47/6 produced by overpolished dies that completely lack the under date for sale for $1500. That's nuts. 1855/54s are more common than their pops suggest they are. One could have scored an original G6 off eBay last night for $41.
I'd trim the list to:
1a) 53-O NA
1b) 42 SD SL
3) 78-S
4) 73 NA O3
5) 42-O SD
6) 46-O TD
7) 73-S
8) 52
9) 55-S
Screw the 1866 No Motto.
Bill Bugert was going to publish a book listing the known examples of 73 AN O3 that he's aware of, much like his book on the 78-S. He estimates 75-80 exist.