The 1873 is the first circulation strike eagle of the Liberty design with a mintage of fewer than 1,000 coins. Only 800 pieces were produced which, when combined with a virtual lack of contemporary numismatic interest in circulation strikes of this type, resulted in one of the rarest entries in a series replete with key date issues. PCGS CoinFacts accounts for only 30 to 35 survivors in all grades, auction appearances for which are few and far between in most years.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the Fairmont Collection Hendricks Set, where it realized $52,800.