The 1873-S is one of the most overlooked With Motto half eagles and it is clearly rarer than such San Francisco issues as the 1871-S, 1872-S and 1874-S. It is unknown in Uncirculated and I have only seen one AU58 which I thought was properly graded. Despite this fact, the 1873-S is still priced well within the budget of the average branch mint gold collector.

This fresh-to-the-market example shows a considerable amount of natural luster below nice even russet toning. The detail is excellent; as usual the mintmark is tiny and not sharply impressed. This date tends to come with excessive detracting abrasions and the surfaces on this piece are decidedly choicer than usual/

A PCGS AU53 example with CAC approval sold for $3,173 as Heritage 1/14: 6730 and, in my opinion, it was not as nice as the present example.

This piece is not far moved from the Condition Census for the date yet it is priced at less than $3,000. Good value? I should say so….

CAC has approved two in this grade with one finer (AU58).