The 1873 Indian Head Penny actually comes in two versions. Coins struck in the early part of the year are known as Closed 3 because the loops in the number 3 in the date were so tight that it actually looks like an 8. This was eventually corrected to make the 3 more clearly legible and these are known as Open 3. Since production of the Closed 3 was stopped early in the year, this version of the coin is about twice as rare as the revised Open 3.
Indian Head Design
By 1873, there was more demand for coins and the government ramped up production. Meanwhile, there weren’t any major changes to the Indian Head design. As with previous years, the face of the coin is distinguished by the goddess Liberty who is wearing an Indian chief headdress. The back of the coin is marked by an oak wreath with a shield at the top of the coin with the words “ONE CENT” in the middle. This design was first introduced by James Barton Longacre in 1859 and continued to be used for many years.
Value of an 1873 Indian Head Penny
A Closed 3 1873 Indian Head Penny is worth around $25 in good condition. You can expect to pay $185 for an extremely fine coin and $235 for an uncirculated version. The Open 3, which isn’t quite as rare, has slightly lower values. A good coin is worth $22 and an uncirculated coin is valued at $190.
Type of coin: Penny
Year: 1873
Mint Mark: Philadelphia
Total mintage: 11,676,500
Metal content: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
Face value: One Cent
Weight: 3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: James Barton Longacre
Diameter: 19 millimeters