1873

The Closed 3 came first. Early 1873 production used a date punch where the upper and lower curves of the numeral nearly touched in the center, creating the visual ambiguity with the figure 8 that prompted the Mint to order a modified punch partway through the year. Examples struck before the correction show the characteristic narrow gap between the upper and lower halves of the 3, while later coins from modified dies show clear separation. On worn examples the distinction can be subtle, and certification from PCGS or NGC is the standard for serious attribution.

Per PCGS specialist research, the Closed 3 is approximately ten times scarcer than the Open 3 across the surviving population. The gap reflects how little of the 1873 production run used the original punch before the correction took effect. Mint State Closed 3 nickels are scarce enough to command meaningful premiums over the Open 3 in any grade, and certified examples are the only reliable option for a collector paying variety prices.

The 1873 Closed 3 is a recognized variety in major Shield nickel references and is tracked separately by both grading services. Collectors pursuing the complete 1873 variety pair acquire both the Closed 3 and the Open 3 to document the within-year die change, while date-only collectors typically settle for the Open 3 because of the dramatic price differential. A well-struck Closed 3 in higher Mint State grades is a specialist acquisition that rewards patient searching, and the variety stands as a small piece of documentary evidence for the Mint's broader 1873 date-punch correction across every denomination it struck that year.