1873 3 Cent - Open Or Closed 3? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,435
alanwatkins New Member United States 15 Posts	Posted 12/28/2015 3:59 pm I am trying to figure out if/which one of these coins is the open 3 variety and which is the closed 3 variety. The one on the right definitely has a smaller opening in the 3, but my understanding is that the 3 is supposed to be further away in the closed 3 variety....and in this case, it looks closer than the other one (the inset is my attempt to super-impose). Thoughts? Report this Post to the Staff

CoinHuntingDrew Pillar of the Community United States 4932 Posts	Posted 12/28/2015 4:09 pm left - open right - closed Report this Post to the Staff
alanwatkins New Member United States 15 Posts	Posted 12/28/2015 4:13 pm I agree....but what about the distance from the 3 to the bust? Is that not as accurate of an indicator? Report this Post to the Staff
TypeCoin971793 Pillar of the Community United States 6370 Posts	Posted 12/28/2015 4:41 pm The numbers were hand-punched into the die, so any relationship between the bust and the number is meaningless and harder on the eyes. Use the gap in between the balls of the 3's. Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 12/28/2015 4:49 pm Correct. The change was made because the "Closed" 3 was apparently confused with an 8 at the time. Report this Post to the Staff
alanwatkins New Member United States 15 Posts	Posted 12/28/2015 11:06 pm Thanks guys...I knew mint marks were hand punched, but didn't know the dates were. Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 12/29/2015 10:24 pm Dates were hand punched using individual punches til about 1840, and then using four digit logotype punches until 1907 or so depending on the denomination. Report this Post to the Staff
TypeCoin971793 Pillar of the Community United States 6370 Posts	Posted 12/29/2015 10:41 pm Thank you yet again, Condor. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,435

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