Help! 1873 Half Dollar, Closed or Open variety?

[JP]

I am on vacation with my family, in a land far, far, away from home. I went today to an antique store in a residential area of town. I asked if they had coins for sale. I looked through their US coins and found a few good choices. Most of the coins were overpriced for what they were. I found a 1920 Standing Liberty quarter that to me looks in un-circulated condition. I then saw he had a few half dollars which I purchased also. One of the half dollars is dated 1869 the other is dated 1873. Is the 1873 half the closed or open variety? Does it have value even if it is holed?

 

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[JP]

Re: 1873 Half Dollar, Closed or Open variety?

Close up of date

 

[Jeffro]

Re: 1873 Half Dollar, Closed or Open variety?

The 1873 half you have looks more closed than the pic in the Red Book, for sure. But I admit I don't know what constitutes a "closed" variety.

 

[JP]

Re: 1873 Half Dollar, Closed or Open variety?

I found another 1873 with no arrows on an auction site. If you look closely the top part of the 3 almost touches the middle part. Is that what they mean by closed? I have been looking for 2 days and can't find any reference to the difference of open or closed. Thanks.

 

[Yaquina]

Your coin has a closed three. The open three variety is obvious, and also quite rare. This is still a very nice coin however.

Best, Mike

 

[JP]

Thanks both for your information. I had thought maybe it was an open 3 because I can't find a picture of an open 3. I have found several examples of the closed 3 and they look almost like the number 8. It is a nice piece even with the hole in it and still not a common coin. Does anyone know if it has any value even with the hole?

 

[skierbob]

Sorry to tell you this, but your coin isn't worth much with the hole in it. Any numismatic value is lost with the hole. It has silver value only. Right now, they're paying about 8 to 1 for silver, which means you could get about $4.00 for it. Unless you try to sell it on E-Bay or something. Those wackoes on E-Bay will pay ridiculous prices for anything.

 

[bk]

I just get sick when I see such nice coins get destroyed like that. Even with a hole its a nice looking coin.

 

[JP]

Thanks bk, I have been crying over this too.

I purchased 3 seated half dollars from the gentleman for $60.00. The other two do not have holes in them and are in better shape. I will try to post pictures of the others. I also purchased a 1920 s standing liberty quarter that looks like the day it was minted and 3 different Spanish reales coins. My total investment was around $100.00.

As for this half with the hole in it, it does break my heart. I wonder though if in the future if it may have some value. There were only around 500,000 minted.

 

[rvbvetter]

It's definitly the closed variety. Reason I know is because I dug an 1873 seated dime that I thought said 1878. Later when I could make out it was a 3. Was when I found out which is closed and which isn't.
The balls on the three is what makes it appear to be closed and what their talking about when they say closed. HH

 

[Davers]

I've been trying to to tell the difference between an open vs, closed 3 on an 1873 Seated dime, I still have not seen a picture of an authentic open 3. I suppose your son is now around 18 years old now , hope he still likes to metal detect. I have a strange obsession for holed coins , since digging a Capped Bust 1829 half dime a couple years ago , the Half is cool hope you still have it . Davers

 

[scott9050]

Throw it on Ebay. Even with the damage someone will bid because it has good eye appeal and would have been a $250 coin without the damage. It should make a good filler for someone.