diff --git a/eodatasets3/properties.py b/eodatasets3/properties.py
index 68f53bd4..99014516 100644
--- a/eodatasets3/properties.py
+++ b/eodatasets3/properties.py
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ def dataset_version(self) -> str:
         return self.properties.get("odc:dataset_version")
 
     @property
-    def collection_number(self) -> str:
+    def collection_number(self) -> int:
         """
         The version of the collection.
         Eg:
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ def collection_number(self) -> str:
             dataset_version: 1.6.0
             collection_number: 3
         """
-        return self.properties.get("odc:collection_number", "0")
+        return self.properties.get("odc:collection_number")
 
     @dataset_version.setter
     def dataset_version(self, value):
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_assemble.py b/tests/integration/test_assemble.py
index 0799f63c..03c36c57 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_assemble.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_assemble.py
@@ -425,6 +425,9 @@ def test_dea_c3_naming_conventions(tmp_path: Path):
     p.dataset_version = "1.6.0"
     p.collection_number = "3"
 
+    # Collection number returned as integer via the getter.
+    assert p.collection_number == 3
+
     # Success case
     dataset_id, metadata_path = p.done()
     metadata_path_offset = metadata_path.relative_to(tmp_path).as_posix()