Numismatic

1873 Liberty Seated Half Dollar No Arrows Closed 3 VG

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The year 1873 was a transitional period for United States coinage, making examples from this era particularly intriguing to study. This silver half dollar, struck at the Philadelphia Mint, represents the classic Liberty Seated design without the arrows at the date that would appear later in the year. It features the "Closed 3" variety in the date, a subtle detail that distinguishes it from other issues of the same year. Because it was minted in Philadelphia, the coin does not bear a mint mark. On the obverse, the design by Christian Gobrecht displays Lady Liberty seated on a rock. She holds a pole topped with a liberty cap in one hand while her other hand rests on a shield inscribed with the word LIBERTY. The reverse showcases a heraldic eagle clutching an olive branch and three arrows in its talons, with a shield draped across its chest. This circulated piece, graded in Very Good condition, contains 0.3575 troy ounces of silver and offers a tangible connection to nineteenth-century American commerce.