1873 Half Eagle Closed 3 - 1873 $5 NGC XF45 CAC. This eye-appealing, Closed 3, 1873 Half Eagle is well struck. Full details remain on the centers of the stars, the eagles neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield. Some original mint luster remains in protected areas. The coin, which is light and dark yellow gold, is original and clean for the grade with no individually disturbing abrasion marks or other distractions. The CAC sticker indicates that the coin is of premium quality and fully merits the assigned grade.
 
When Mint Engraver William Kneass was unable to resume his duties after a debilitating stroke, Christian Gobrecht was asked to do his work, which included making a new half eagle that would be uniform with the eagle. The Liberty Head half eagle with no motto was minted from 1839 to 1866.

Gobrechts design shows a left facing profile of Liberty wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet. Her hair is tied in the back and there are two loose curls that hang down her neck. Around the head are thirteen six-pointed stars, and the date is below the truncation. At the periphery of the coin are dentils. The coin also has a reeded edge. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle similar to the one on the Classic Head half eagle except that the eagle is smaller and its neck is not bent so aggressively. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the eagle, except for its wing tips, in an arc. The denomination is below, separated with dots, and written as FIVE D. Type 2 was created when the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to a banner designed by James B. Longacre above the eagle in 1866. The change was made in response to pressure organized by the Reverend M.R. Watkinson.

In its population report as of October 2013, CAC shows 1 1873 Closed 3 half eagle, the present coin, confirmed at the XF45 grade level. Less than 3% of all 1873 Closed 3 half eagles certified by NGC and PCGS have been given CAC stickers.