1873 Open 3
| Weight | 1.94 g |
| Diameter | 17.9 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 1,173,000 Combined mintage for all 1873 varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 75% Copper, 25% Nickel |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-964 |
| Last edited |
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Other recorded varieties for 1873:
- 1873 Closed 3 · Closed 3
External references
The 1873 Open 3 three-cent nickel is the scarcer of the two 1873 date varieties, despite having been struck during the longer portion of the year. Certified populations suggest the Open 3 is roughly half as common as the Closed 3, which runs counter to the typical expectation that the later-production variety is more plentiful. A PCGS MS66 Open 3 sold for $10,575 at Heritage in 2013, and the finest known is a single MS66+ example.
The Open 3 variety is identified by the shape of the final digit in the date. The 3's arms do not meet, leaving visible gaps where the Closed 3 shows an almost-closed loop. The Mint made the change to prevent the 3 from being misread as an 8, a problem that had become obvious on early 1873 production. The change affected every US denomination struck that year, giving collectors a 1873 Closed 3 / Open 3 pair to track across the entire coinage.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $17 | $19.50 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $21 | $24 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $25 | $29 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $28 | $32 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $40 | $46 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $57 | $65 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $141 | $163 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
How much is a 1873 Open 3 Three-Cent Nickel worth?
How many 1873 Open 3 Three-Cent Nickels were minted?
What is a 1873 Open 3 Three-Cent Nickel made of?
What is the melt value of a 1873 Open 3 Three-Cent Nickel?
Is the 1873 Open 3 Three-Cent Nickel a key date?
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