Flaunt your flat tops: which US coinage dates and denominations feature flat-top threes?

MrScience · December 16, 2011 2:16PM

Maybe it's just me, but I like the angular appearance of the flat-top three (3) digit like the one in this 1843 large cent:

Contrast that digit style with the more usual rounded three in this 1943 half dollar:

Several denominations and dates or date ranges of US coins feature the flat-top three. Please post yours, or at least call out the date and denomination! I'll start...

1913 $10 Indian:

TomB · December 17, 2011 2:34AM

Here's a two-for-one for you.

OldEastside · December 17, 2011 2:44AM

Well at first I thought you were talking about aircraft carriers
I'm not good at pics, but my newp 1938 proof Jefferson would
qualify

Steve

mozin · December 17, 2011 7:26AM

All ten varieties of the 1813 Capped Bust Half Dollar have flat-top threes. There are no others in the entire Capped Bust Half Dollar Series 1807-36, except for the 1817/3 shown above.

mozin · December 17, 2011 7:27AM

The 1937 Antietam has a flat-top three.

So does the 1936 Bridgeport.

And the 1935 Connecticut.

And the 1935 Hudson.

And the 1936 Lynchburg.

And the 1934 Maryland.

And the 1936 Norfolk.

And the 1936 Rhode Island.

And the 1937 Roanoke.

And the San Diego.

And Texas.

And the 1936 Wisconsin.

And lastly, the 1936 York.

Hope I did not miss any.

koynekwest · December 17, 2011 7:43AM

1913 and 1923 Buffs. By 1930, the mint used a round top 3. There are also two 1913 Var 1 patterns-one with a flat top 3 and one with a round top 3.

koynekwest · December 17, 2011 7:44AM

By the way-I much prefer the flat top 3.

messydesk · December 17, 2011 7:52AM

ambro51 · December 17, 2011 8:03AM

Dr. Feuchtwanger used the flat top 3 on all his 1837 dated pieces. One thing I notice....the middle downstroke, he like this long. On the HT119, in fact, on examination you can see how the original punch impression was slightly lengthened by hand, it is slightly crooked

this is the date off the one cent piece

lkeigwin · December 17, 2011 9:22AM

pontiacinf · December 17, 2011 10:30AM

this is like the best thread in a long while.

steelielee · December 17, 2011 10:43AM

<< <i>this is like the best thread in a long while. >>

Sure is! That 1817/3 half put me over the top....c'mon Santa...thanks for posting...

thisnamztaken · December 17, 2011 11:13AM

rxer · December 17, 2011 11:23AM

MrScience · December 17, 2011 12:09PM

Nice work and great coins! TomB, the 1817/3 was not on my radar at all!

We have yet to see or list all the denominations and dates! It turns out that in addition to pre-1964 coinage, some modern coinage uses flat top threes. For example:

2003 Jefferson Nickel:

2003 Roosevelt Dime:

BaronVonBaugh · December 17, 2011 3:13PM

My most recent purchase.

StubbyMcNumbthumbs · December 17, 2011 7:10PM

SkyMan · December 18, 2011 12:39PM

IMO here are the flat-tops to flaunt, even if they are getting close to obsolete...

However, since we're talking about coins...

CaptHenway · December 18, 2011 12:43PM

Would the Roman Numerals "III" on the Trime and the Trickel be considered flat topped three's?

fcloud · December 18, 2011 12:43PM

The only year for the Mercury Dimes is 1923. All others have the rounded 3.

melvin289 · December 18, 2011 2:09PM

The first one I ran across in Photo Bucket. Excuse my poor photo skills.

Ron

MrScience · December 20, 2011 8:37PM

Thanks to everyone for their contributions! To summarize, I think the following US-mint-made coins used flat top threes (please make additions or corrections):

half cents: 1793, 1803
large cents: 1793, 1803, 1843
nickels: 1913 (Buffalo), 1923, 1938 (Jefferson), 1939, 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003 (but not 1943!)
half dimes: 1803, 1843
dimes: 1803, 1843, 1923, 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003, 2013
quarters: 1838, 1839, 1843, 1923, 2013 (America the Beautiful series)
half dollars: 1803, 1813, 1817/3, 1837, 1838, 1839 (Capped and Seated), 1843, 1923, 1953, 1963
dollars: 1803, 1836, 1839, 1843
quarter eagles: 1843, 1913
half eagles: 1803, 1843, 1913
eagles: 1803, 1913
double eagles: 1913, 1923
commemoratives: 1934 Maryland. 1935 Connecticut. 1935 Hudson. 1937 Antietam, 1936 Bridgeport. 1936 Lynchburg. 1936 Norfolk. 1936 Rhode Island. 1936 Wisconsin. 1936 York. 1937 Roanoke. 1934-1938 Texas, 1935-1936 San Diego, 1993 James Madison Dollar.
silver eagles: 1993, 2003

MrScience · December 28, 2011 6:56AM

Found another example, the 1993 James Madison/Montpelier Commemorative Silver Dollar. These are images from usmint.gov:

JBN · December 28, 2011 7:30AM

jhdfla · December 28, 2011 7:46AM

MrScience · December 28, 2011 7:57AM

Nice coins! List updated....

MrScience · December 30, 2016 11:31PM

List updated. Evidently, the first quarters in 90 years to feature flat-top 3s are the 2013 ATB quarters...

ricko · December 31, 2016 7:30AM

Numismatists do find the smallest of details to focus on..... Cheers, RickO

MrScience · December 31, 2016 10:57AM

"A man's accomplishments in life are the cumulative effect of his attention to detail." -- John Foster Dulles

tradedollarnut · December 31, 2016 2:20PM

Don't forget the 1803 dollar

MrScience · December 31, 2016 3:00PM

Beautiful, TDN -- added!

TommyType · December 31, 2016 5:17PM

Related question: Has a U.S. coin ever used the open top 4 vs. the closed top?

Off the top of my head, I can't think of one....just seems like it would be an odd choice. But the commems have enough variation, that maybe one exists??