Jim wrote:

points closed completes the circuit.
Jim


Right, So, if the points are not shorted or closed, and the OP is
getting ~12 volts with a test lamp at the (+) & (-) terminals of the
coil, where is the ground/negative return for this circuit?

The OP also says his "hot" circuit does not continue across the points,
which would indicates the points are not closing.

Rob