1873 IHC - is my 3 open or closed???

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Mark Metzger, Jul 28, 2022.

  1. Mark Metzger

    Mark Metzger Well-Known Member

    I am so terrible at identifying such things…any input would help. I also have an 1898 with a goofy possible overdate on the 9…anything there? Thanks!
    AF036AF9-3A65-4195-8839-6AAFF1B29835.jpeg 6D15B0C8-A820-4BAE-86CD-0D0918265D0D.jpeg EDAF8E3F-62FA-4FC1-9F4A-551533D279A6.jpeg 71A2A4EB-1B0D-48B7-BE89-532366E265A7.jpeg 392019D0-A82E-4417-9054-326FFCB9A7D3.jpeg
     
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  3. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

  4. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I tried to look up open vs. closed 3, and PCGS has an image comparing the two, but the shot of the open 3 is worthless -- it was apparently upscaled from an old photo, and the compression artifacts are so bad that it's nearly impossible to tell what the digit actually looks like. Does anybody have a good, clear comparison photo showing both?
     
  5. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    It’s the open 3. The Red Book has the best photo to show the difference.
    3DF93EE5-89A2-41C1-9668-6FF8BEA459B0.jpeg
     
    -jeffB likes this.
  6. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Based on that photo, though, I've got to say OP's coin doesn't really resemble either one. Rather, it seems more different from both than the Open and Close are from each other. I give up. :(
     
  7. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    There's other diagnostics than the 3 . Like the broken D ?
     
  8. Mark Metzger

    Mark Metzger Well-Known Member

    That’s exactly how I felt…my coin doesn’t seem to match either exactly. Gun to my head, I’d say open…luckily I’m not under such pressure.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2022
  9. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    I may have an explanation for your confusion. Snow on Page 423 discussing the S1 die marriage says: "The S1 die is the most interesting variety with bold repunching on the 3 which closes the digit. At first glance it looks like a Close 3."

    So your coin may be the Open 3 S1 with this unique circumstance. I haven't attempted to attribute your coin to verify that it is the S1. But the position of the digits in the date seem to match the S1. Take a look under a glass to verify the repunching of 7 and 3, most apparent at the top of the digits.

    If the S1, Snow gives it a 2 Star rating which he defines as "Worthy of a significant premium, probably between 2X and 3X." He also says: "This is a popular variety and quite scarce."
     
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  10. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    I'll bet that's a nice folder, if the two Indians seen are representative of the rest.
     
  11. Mark Metzger

    Mark Metzger Well-Known Member

    It is a fun little incomplete display board that was part of a collection I purchased yesterday. Maybe I’ll post some of the nicer looking coins in this thread since there seem to be some IHC enthusiasts looking in. I, for one, love the type. The detail on the obverse is one of my favorites. I have a long way to go in terms of identifying Snow varieties though!
     
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  12. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    I too love the type.
     
  13. Mark Metzger

    Mark Metzger Well-Known Member

    Here’s a few to get started…they aren’t all this nice unfortunately
    227EE654-9D7F-44E9-BEEF-84820B31DF7F.jpeg F7D2F4D0-594C-4A11-A741-C93B6DD09FB1.jpeg E7F752F2-7B64-444C-B5E4-543CC8D9A5AA.jpeg 57DBDC65-9FF9-4157-8EF3-63FA1DC715FF.jpeg 638568B6-B769-47DD-A108-E019B01D6FD3.jpeg 5E1981E4-0C3B-4F5D-9078-2843070CBD3A.jpeg
     
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  14. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

  15. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Nice looking batch of IHC's.
     
  16. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    nice pick ups
     
  17. Mark Metzger

    Mark Metzger Well-Known Member

    I’m about to post a fresh thread with photos of the better coins from the collection. Feel free to mosey over and take a look!
     
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