Badly Struck Buffalo Nickels
BuffaloIronTail
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Everyone talks about them. Lets see some examples. Comments welcome, of course.
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Any 24 S
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"Sou Mangueira......."
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.
Here is an example of one struck from an excessively worn die-
Thanks Ron for the pics and explanation.
Note the difference.
Pete
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.
You're quite welcome, Pete!
I will be looking for a better example of a weak strike and will post it here if I find one.
Here is an example I used to own. MS62 CAC
That 26 D says it all. Nice example. Peace Roy
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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
Here is a really badly struck 1913 type one buff
you would have to look at quite a lot of these to find one
a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
Strange how that 13p appears fairly well struck except for the broad divot like area.
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 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.
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
Two examples of 1920-S:
Notice the severe wear around the rim.
Pete
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.
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?