3359

1873 2c Open 3 NGC PF65 BN

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:900.00 USD Estimated At:1,800.00 - 2,200.00 USD
1873 2c Open 3 NGC PF65 BN
Actually, it is not clear if this is or is not a restrike. What is known is that the date punches were changed early in 1873 for most United States coins, because the closed 3 punch resembled an 8. Information is that Proofs were struck early in the year, usually January, when the new date punches arrived after the closed 3 Proofs had been produced. Once the open 3 punches were put into the presses, apparently a few additional Proofs were run off, perhaps even later than 1873. Breen noted in his bountiful encyclopedia that the open 3 was "possibly 10 times as rare" as the closed 3. Today we have additional information from the PCGS Population Report, which shows a ratio closer to 3 to 1, with the open 3 coins still much scarcer. This is one of just a handful graded by the service. We note that the strike is full on the pales and gules, but the horizontal azure lines show some typical lack of depth at the extreme center, making this coin better struck than usual for this issue. (#3654)