1873 $20 Open 3 MS(PCGS#8967)

December 2025 Showcase Auction - The James A. Stack, Sr. Collection Part I

Commissaire-priseur

Stack's Bowers

Numéro du lot

21036

Grade

AU58

Prix

4 800

Description du lot

Beautiful golden-apricot surfaces are sharply defined overall with nearly full satin luster. The mintage for the circulation strike 1873 double eagle is 1,709,825 pieces. This total includes both Close 3 and Open 3 date logotypes, the latter undoubtedly comprising the majority of the mintage given the relative abundance of survivors relative to those of the Close 3 variety. For type purposes, the collector of circulated coins would be hard pressed to do better than the premium quality Choice AU offered here.<p>The Close 3 and Open 3 varieties were publicized by Harry X Boosel, who had no period after his X middle initial. He began collecting and dealing (on the side) in coins in the 1930s. From March 1957 through December 1958 he wrote articles concerning the coinage of 1873, and the change in the 3 date logotype that was instituted by the Mint in the course of that year. The 3 used for multiple coin series that year initially had the knobs on the open ends of this digit too close together, and the numeral to some looked like an 8. Accordingly, in the course of the year the date logotype was modified so that there would be more space between the open ends to the left side of this numeral - hence the designation thereafter of an Close 3 and an Open 3 variety for 1873. At first the term "Closed 3" was used, but then Kenneth Bressett and others involved with the <em>Guide Book of United States Coins</em> changed the nomenclature to "Close 3," as the two knobs were not closed or touching, but were close together.