Badly Struck Buffalo Nickels

Options
BuffaloIronTail
BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Everyone talks about them. Lets see some examples. Comments welcome, of course.

"I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon

Comments

  • Elcontador
    Elcontador Posts: 7,743 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Any 24 S

    "Vou invadir o Nordeste,
    "Seu cabra da peste,
    "Sou Mangueira......."
  • koynekwest
    koynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    This is a weak STRIKE (note the weak central detail.) There are many much worse examples but most of those are from an advanced state of the die(s), sometimes in combination with a weak strike.


  • koynekwest
    koynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Here is an example of one struck from an excessively worn die-

  • BuffaloIronTail
    BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Thanks Ron for the pics and explanation.

    Note the difference.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • Insider2
    Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 7, 2020 8:22PM
    Options

    I'll post one of the best I've ever seen when I get to work. I'm starting a discussion about it but I'll image it here first.

  • koynekwest
    koynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    You're quite welcome, Pete!

  • koynekwest
    koynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I will be looking for a better example of a weak strike and will post it here if I find one.

  • ironmanl63
    ironmanl63 Posts: 1,975 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Here is an example I used to own. MS62 CAC


  • Namvet69
    Namvet69 Posts: 9,423 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    That 26 D says it all. Nice example. Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,755 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I notice most if not all weakly struck buffalo nickels came from the branch mints. Is it possible they struck them weakly to prolong the life of their dies?

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • BUFFNIXX
    BUFFNIXX Posts: 2,759 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 8, 2020 6:54AM
    Options

    Here is a really badly struck 1913 type one buff
    you would have to look at quite a lot of these to find one

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • Walkerguy21D
    Walkerguy21D Posts: 12,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Strange how that 13p appears fairly well struck except for the broad divot like area.

    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • BuffaloIronTail
    BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @PerryHall said:
    I notice most if not all weakly struck buffalo nickels came from the branch mints. Is it possible they struck them weakly to prolong the life of their dies?

    Two reasons, Perry.

    The dies used at the branch mints were produced at the main mint in Philly. The ones that were destined for the branch mints were then segregated from the herd of dies and given the proper mintmark punch.

    Part of setting up a die for use was to stress harden it. The dies were shipped raw to the branch mints, and hardening them for use was their job.

    Both San Francisco and Denver, it seems, did not properly harden the dies for use. They were then left in the press too long, and they quickly wore down. The branch mints only had a prescribed number of dies shipped to them for a years mintage and squeezed the veritable life out of what dies they had.

    They overused them.

    The second reason was to prolong die life by adjusting the press for a lower striking pressure, thereby extending the dies "life".............with the obvious result being a way less than perfect strike.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • clarkbar04
    clarkbar04 Posts: 5,029 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I have a raw unc 25-d Thad takes the cake. I’m not at home now or I’d take a pic. Super worn dies and has a couple small laminations in it, talk about a sad specimen.

    There is or was a 25-S in a rattler 61 holder on eBay that was in the most basal die state I’ve seen.

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • BuffaloIronTail
    BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    1920-S is another Buff that is terribly struck.

    David Lange said that some of the reverses might even have been left in the press till they broke. He also said that some 1920-S reverses looked so bad that they looked like they were wax that was set out in the sun to melt.

    I totally agree with him.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • BuffaloIronTail
    BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 8, 2020 12:46PM
    Options

    Two examples of 1920-S:

    Notice the severe wear around the rim.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • koynekwest
    koynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Here's a pretty bad reverse, a 1918-S. I believe Tom (buffnixx) calls these the "skinned buffalo." As far as strike deficiency goes (not worn dies) the '18-S is the worst in the entire series.

  • koynekwest
    koynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Tom-

    Your 1913 has such an extremely weak and very localized lack of detail that I'm wondering if it might be a filled die. Does the reverse also show corresponding weakness?

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Format
SpoilerCodeQuote
Heading 2Heading 1
Emoji
:):D:(;):/:o:s:p:'(:|B):#:*<3o:)>:)
Url
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file
Comment As ...

Categories