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Personally, I think that our hosts were a little harsh on this 3HL Buffalo
OnWithTheHunt
Posts: 1,267 ✭✭✭✭✭
What do you think?
Proud recipient of the coveted "You Suck Award" (9/3/10).
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Obverse looks close to Fine, but the reverse looks G6....seems like they split the difference.
This variety typically comes with a weak reverse, especially on the bison's head and horn. I've had a few like it, with a fine-VF obv and little to no horn.
The coin looks 10+/12 to these eyes.
(No offense to those who deal in these but I don't understand the appeal of many of the "3-1/2 leg" varieties.)
Some of the best of the 3 1/2 leg stuff is very nearly a three legged. Getting back to the '17-D for a moment, I cherried an AU58 at the PAN show around 25 years ago that only had 3/4 of a horn.
I would say the grade looks accurate.... remember, grades are opinions, not scientific standards....Cheers, RickO
OK, I will bow to the consensus of the forum. Was just a little surprised, this coin had been in a SEGS VF-25 holder. Had it slabbed years ago when PCGS wasn't recognizing this variety. I've cracked out a few of these SEGS varieties for crossover and it's the first one not to cross at grade or improve. Thanks to all.
The "grade' seems OK; but the 1/2-leg is hardly worth mentioning.
Believe it or not - without seeing the label I graded the coin a "commercial" VG-8. That is not MY personal grade.
IMHO, there is a HUGE PROBLEM with the way Buffalo nickels are graded. I write this after using a microscope at low power for many years to examine the surfaces of these coins.
Again, IMHO the images in all the grading guides are too strict. This coin is a FINE + all day, every day for the actual amount of detail lost and the condition of its surface. Too much emphasis is placed on the "horn!"
My comments will not change any minds or any grading guides and NOTHING posted in reply will change my opinion!
EDIT: I just saw the original SEGS grade posted above. VF is much closer to the coin's actual condition than VG! I'll bet PCGS would take another look and upgrade it to a Fine at the least.
When I first looked at the pictures, I graded it as a 12. So an 8 seems a bit low to me.
I absolutely agree, but at the same time, 'you can't fight city hall'......if that coin were a 13S T2, 21S, 26S, etc., I don't think it would command anywhere near F+ money in the market place. Which I guess is what drives the 'commercial grades'.
I don't think it would command anywhere near F+ money in the market place. Which I guess is what drives the 'commercial grades'.
Absolutely true. I have a whole run of mintmarked Buffalo's in the 1920's with flat strikes that I bought in 2X2's labeled only VG to F! However, not one is worth the price of their actual condition to the commercial market!
If I had that coin in hand without the slab, I'd say it's a fake. Since when does E Pluribus Unum look like that?
bob
EPU was weakened due to the same process that removed part of the leg-die polish.