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1873 Closed 3
| Weight | 3.11 g |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 11,676,500 Combined mintage for all 1873 varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 95% Copper, 5% Tin & Zinc |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-342 |
Collection
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Other recorded varieties for 1873:
- 1873 Doubled Liberty · Doubled Liberty
- 1873 Open 3 · Open 3
External references
The 1873 Closed 3 Indian Head cent uses a numeral punch where the 3 has its upper and lower arms curving inward, nearly touching or actually meeting to form a closed loop. The distinction from the Open 3 (where the arms end without meeting) is in the shape of the numeral's terminals. Both varieties were produced from different dies during the same year, and both are collected separately.
The year 1873 saw the passage of the Fourth Coinage Act, which demonetized silver and placed the United States effectively on the gold standard. The "Crime of '73," as silver advocates would call it, did not directly affect the copper cent but reshaped the monetary framework within which it circulated. The cent remained the lowest denomination, now operating in a gold-standard economy rather than a bimetallic one.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $22 | $26 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $28 | $32 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $53 | $61 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $100 | $116 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $146 | $169 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $215 | $250 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $325 | $375 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $520 | $550 |
How much is a 1873 Closed 3 Indian Head Cent worth?
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What is the melt value of a 1873 Closed 3 Indian Head Cent?
Is the 1873 Closed 3 Indian Head Cent a key date?
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