In Search of the Elusive 1903 "Open 3" Penny

[bhx7]

Hi all

I have only been a member of the forums for short time and have enjoyed reading and learning from many of the posts. I have been an avid coin collector since the age of 8 when I was given a bag full of old pennies and foreign coins by a friend of the family. I quickly settled on British Coinage and collected for many years. Unfortunately with many things life gets in the way. With the arrival of my first child I found it neccessary to sell my collection to purchase cots, pushchairs, etc.... It had to be done but it was something I always regreted. I did keep a handful of coins which had been passed down to me from my grandfather but that is all I had left other than scans of all my coins.

Anyway about 20 years later I was given 2 huge bags of old bronze pennies and halfpennies. About 3000 coins in total. With the help of Michael Freeman and David Groom's fantastic books on Bronze coins I have managed to put together quite a nice collection of coins a variants. I have the 1926 ME penny, numerous Edward VII variants; Low Tide, etc..

After I had finished with the coins I had been given I began to source from other places, Ebay, the local antique shop (who have 4 huge buckets of bronze coins I have been able to systematically go through), to name a couple. But the one coin which seems to be evading me is the 1903 open 3. My budget is fairly limited so these £60-£200 price tags are way out of my price range. Is this pretty standard for this coin? and is there any tips on how to try and find an example.

Thanks

[PWA 1967]

Hi bhx7

Yes the price of between £60-£200 is right although recently an example probably finest known sold for well over £1k.

Sorry no real tips unfortunately dozens of people look for scarce pennies on ebay so unless it was a buy it know and you spotted it the chances are other people will see it aswell.

Good look with your search and hope you are lucky.

Pete.

[bhx7]

Thanks Pete

[jacinbox]

http://londoncoins.co.uk/?page=Pastresults&auc=146&searchlot=3326&searchtype=2

One of the finest known.

[bhx7]

Thanks J, that is an absolutely beautiful coin. I would settle for a fair-fine specimen. Think I was lucky with the 1926 ME. Found mine in a bucket for 10p and it not a bad example. Keep hoping I can do the same for the open 3.

Fingers crossed.

[scott]

I have found my 1926 ME in a bucket of bargains as well.. same with one of the rarer 1860's.

always looking for those open 3's 1897 dots..... they never turn up.

[jacinbox]

http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?searchlot=2623&searchtype=2&page=Catalogue

[Nordle11]

Open 3, 1897 dot and Gouby X (1911) are the three I always look for. Still need the former and latter though.

Ive seen a few Gouby Xs around but they're advertised as such and I kind of have my mind set that I'm going to find one in a bargain bin or on the cheap on eBay, I've been searching for the last few years so would feel hard done by to pay full price haha.

[scott]

yea, i keep looking for them as well.