1873 3CN Open And Closed 3

First off, there are no real online sources for 3CN collectors. There's a scattering of information on various sites but no single site dedicated to the 3CN collector. Heck...I'd be one of the earliest members if one got started!

I don't recall the exact numbers, but I believe there were fewer Closed-3 3CN minted than Open-3. Regardless, the market seems to price them relatively the same except in perhaps upper grades. It's a matter of surviving population. I've seen where the services more than once have gotten the designation on Closed vs. Open wrong.

The difference can seem subtle but once you've seen enough of them, it's easy enough. The reason they dumped the Closed-3 version is because it looked too much like an "8". The ends of the "3" almost seem to touch. Note the 3CN pictures below.

Thanks Hunter for getting the exact figures for us.

Nearly 1.2 million were minted and by 3CN standards, that was a lot. There are plenty of survivors so prices are pretty much the same for both types across the board. The Gray Sheet doesn't even list the two separately so that implies dealers pretty much trade the varieties at the same price.