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The Closed 3 Variety from 1873 displays serifs on the 3 that are so close, it can be confused with an 8. This variety is far more rare than its Open 3 counterpart. Common through MS63 with MS64's and finer gems becoming more scarce. We start seeing true rarity in this issue at the MS65 level especially with red color.
Obverse Description
A portrait bearing the likeness of a Native American in full headdress framed by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the periphery. The date is centered at the bottom under the portrait.
Reverse Description
The reverse bears the denomination of ONE CENT in the center surrounded by a wreath bearing a ribbon with arrows tied in at the bottom center.
Book Reference
Closed or Close: The “closed” 3 on 1873 coinage is not really closed, but nearly so. Harry X Boosel popularized Closed 3 when he shared his affection for the date in a series of articles called “1873–1873,” published in book form in 1960. For many years, the Red Book and Whitman’s Bowers Series (now the Red Book Series) erred on the side of accuracy with the term Close 3. As of the 79th edition of the Red Book, however, Whitman has returned to Closed 3, in keeping with modern collector usage.
1873, Closed 3, Cent Production: On January 18, Chief Coiner A.L. Snowden submitted a formal complaint that the 3 in the dates on all the coinage dies was too close and could easily be confused for an 8. New date punches with a more open 3 were made and put into use on all the remaining dies to be made. There is no way to accurately record how many coins were struck from the dies made prior to the change. After the Open 3 dies were prepared, it is probable that both date styles were struck simultaneously. The mintage given here is estimated from the surviving percentage of Closed 3 coins compared to Open 3 examples.
Survivability: About 25% of all 1873 Indian Head cents have the Closed 3 date style. These seem to be about as readily available as the 1872 issue, which has a higher mintage. The pace of the redemption of cents slowed a bit in 1873 and 1874, so more of this issue survived. These pieces stayed in circulation for a long time.
Collecting Challenges: The 1873 Closed 3 cent is very diffcult to find unattributed, as its desirability has been known for many years. Expect to pay a premium about double the price of the Open 3. Look for attractive problem-free pieces. Many collectors add both the Closed 3 and Open 3 digit styles to their collections; however, if only one example is desired, collectors usually choose the less expensive Open 3. This keeps demand a bit lower than it would otherwise be.
Collecting Circulated Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for circulated coins is VF-20. Most are well struck. Avoid problem pieces with corroded surfaces or with aggressive cleaning. Most coin albums label a hole for this coin, so demand is moderately strong.
Collecting Mint State Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for Mint State coins is MS-63RB. These are very scarce, but the premium over the Open 3 style is lower due to weaker demand from date collectors. Most are found with streaky red-brown colors. Full red examples are very scarce. Beware of cleaned examples offered as gem full red.
Collecting Proof Issues: Proofs were struck in Closed 3 style only. These are moderately scarce, though much more common than the Mint State format. The dies seem to have been heavily polished prior to use. None are known from what numismatists call an early die state. Mirrors are usually medium. Cameo examples are rare.
VARIETIES:
The main variety for this year is the Doubled LIBERTY, Snow-1 (see next entry). This variety is very popular. There is a second, less dramatic doubled LIBERTY, S-2. It has doubling on just the BERTY of LIBERTY. All known examples are struck with the Bold N reverse. A Shallow N reverse may exist on the S-2 as well as others, but none have been authenticated yet.
Catalog Information
GSID:
1329
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1873
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
ONE CENT
Weight (gr):
3.11 gr
Weight (oz):
0.11 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
19
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Variety:
Closed 3
Coin Date:
1873
Denomination:
1c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
11,676,500
Coinage Type:
Indian Head Cent
Coinage Years:
1864-1909
Composition:
95% copper; 5% zinc & tin
PCGS #:
2109
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Subject: I would like to contribute catalog info to CDN for 1873 1c Closed 3 MS BN
Body: Referring page: http://dev.greysheet.com/prices/item/1873-brown-surfaces-closed-3-united-states-indian-cent/gsid/1329 GSID: 1329 Title: 1873 1c Closed 3 MS BN
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Coin Value History
1873 1c Closed 3 MS BN
Value By Grade
1873 1c Closed 3 MS BN
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
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Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS66 |
|
$2,500 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $2,000 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
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Worth: $6 – $72,000
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Worth: $6 – $18,750
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Worth: $14 – $20,000
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Worth: $300 – $18,000
1873 1C Closed 3, AU50 PCGS. PCGS Population: 38 in 50, 201 finer (1/26). CDN: $220 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU50. Mintage 1...
$214
1873 1C Closed 3 XF45 PCGS. PCGS Population: 72 in 45, 239 finer (11/25). CDN: $180 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 1...
$210
1873 1C Closed 3, VF35 Brown NGC. NGC Census: 10 in 35, 271 finer (11/25). CDN: $120 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF35. Mintage ...
$109
1873 1C Closed 3 AU55 PCGS. PCGS Population: (38/130). Mintage 1,002,000. ...
$276
1873 1C Closed 3 MS62 Brown PCGS. PCGS Population: (30/65). Mintage 1,002,000....
$348
1873 1C Closed 3 MS63 Brown PCGS. PCGS Population: (40/27 and 1/1+). Mintage 1,002,000....
$396
1873 1C Doubled LIBERTY, Snow-2, FS-102, MS65 Brown NGC....
$2,101
1873 1C CLOSED 3 XF40 Brown NGC. NGC Census: (28/234). Mintage 1,002,000....
$139
1873 1C CLOSED 3 Brown -- Altered Color -- NCS. Unc....
$276
1873 1C Closed 3 AU53 NGC. NGC Census: (13/155). PCGS Population: (26/155). CDN: $235 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage...
$264
1873 1C Closed 3 MS64 Brown PCGS. PCGS Population: (19/4). NGC Census: (21/10). CDN: $675 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Min...
$720
1873 1c NGC VF Details (Environmental Damage Closed 3)
$26
1873 1c PCGS VG-08 (Closed 3)
$45
1873 1c PCGS Good-04 (Closed 3)
$25
1873 1C Doubled LIBERTY, Snow-2, FS-102, AU58 PCGS Secure. PCGS Population: (3/5). NGC Census: (1/9). AU58....
$1,530
1873 1c NGC VF25 BN (Closed 3)
$95
1873 1C Closed 3 VF30 NGC. NGC Census: (17/406). PCGS Population (10/194). Numismedia Wsl. Price for problem free NGC/PCGS...
$68
1873 1C Closed 3 MS61 Brown ANACS. FS-009.1, S-2 DDO. NGC Census: (8/151). PCGS Population (0/37). Numismedia Wsl. Price f...
$529
1873 1C Closed 3 -- Corroded -- ANACS. F12 Details. NGC Census: (0/69)....
$30
1873 1C Closed 3 VF20--Cleaned-Retoned--ANACS,XF Details....
$57
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