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Guess the grade of this buffalo nickel and guess which service graded it.

BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited May 14, 2021 6:07PM in U.S. Coin Forum

Take a stab at grading this buffalo nickel which has been slabbed, and guess who did it!


Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
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Comments

  • WildIdeaWildIdea Posts: 1,861 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I’ll bite, MS-63
    Could be any service

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 10,858 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Apart from the late die state, there also appears to be some friction, so I’m at AU 58.

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  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks like an AU53 to me.... No idea of the TPG. Cheers, RickO

  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 23,712 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If I were a grading service I would decline to grade it as it is a problem coin and a very common date as well. Light wear, some damage and poor strike.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • HalfDimeDudeHalfDimeDude Posts: 1,189 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Environmental damage detail Au.50

    "That's why I wander and follow La Vie Dansante"

  • BuffaloIronTailBuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,331 ✭✭✭✭✭

    AU-55. Very minimal wear.

    Graded by BITS (Buffalo Iron Tail Service).

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,071 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My first thought was 64

  • clarkbar04clarkbar04 Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ngc 62

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • HydrantHydrant Posts: 7,773 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 15, 2021 7:41AM

    65⭐

  • TriPodBuffaloTriPodBuffalo Posts: 103 ✭✭✭

    NGC MS64

  • CryptoCrypto Posts: 3,113 ✭✭✭✭✭

    MS61 whole lota die erosion. ANACS?

  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 8,698 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BuffaloIronTail said:
    AU-55. Very minimal wear.

    Graded by BITS (Buffalo Iron Tail Service).

    Pete

    I agree with AU55, but not the grading service. :D
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.
  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 7,474 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow... THIS is an interesting thread. We have guesses from AU50 to MS64.

    My first thought was AU55 with a poor strike... not sure what's going on with the obverse surfaces... grading service...????

    Interesting piece...

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  • breakdownbreakdown Posts: 1,923 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks mint state to me so I would guess NGC 64. You see that dusty look in some early buffalos and it's not my favorite but others might like its character.

    "Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,053 ✭✭✭✭✭

    P 62.

  • relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭✭✭

    MS62 ANACS

    Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions
  • coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 10,384 ✭✭✭✭✭

    MS67 graded by NNC

    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thanks for all the comments, so here is the whole slab
    Its an ngc ms65 and has a caci sticker too!
    Here is the obverse of the whole slab

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭✭✭

    and here is the reverse of the holder its one of those holders that you would want to get replaced right away

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • ColonelJessupColonelJessup Posts: 6,442 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 15, 2021 1:13PM

    Quinn the Eskimo says it's not his cup of meat.

    First impression: ED?

    Is that the iIHERTY variety?
    Who brained the buffalo?

    Is a 63 worth 45 bucks? That's what I graded it - 45 bucks

    "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sure ain't no 65 in my opinion. I'd have given it a 62.

  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,623 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Bet it doesn't cross :):)

    Perhaps looks better out of the holder? Judging from the "iberty" alone, it doesn't even make VG. You certainly got a gift grade here, and CAC approved? Wow! NGC is way to lenient at times.

    image
  • BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 16, 2021 5:24AM

    Almost makes me think it has to be a a typo error

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 16, 2021 5:26AM

    or the finalizer knew who the submitter was and does not like him
    but thats not very likely

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 23,712 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'll bet that coin is never cracked out.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • WildIdeaWildIdea Posts: 1,861 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Whenever I see planchet tumbling hits (for lack of a better term) not fully stuck out on the high points, I see a soft strike. Like here on the buffalos mid section. There may still be some circulation wear, but that story would be better told in hand by tipping it in light, so I defer to the pros who have done this. Not my series, but with the spots I went with MS-63 and mostly for dusty eye appeal. Can I see a 5? Its a weird situation. The die erosion would have to really be throwing some luster around that the photos dent show well, which may be what must be going on here.

  • JimTylerJimTyler Posts: 2,868 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I see initials scratched on the Buffalo

  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,071 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Back in 1989, before a certain former forum member started bragging about what he could do to Buffalo nickels, this was exceptional color....

  • CoinscratchCoinscratch Posts: 7,396 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Smells fishy. Does CAC keep photographic records? Can these slabs be opened and resealed?

  • amwldcoinamwldcoin Posts: 11,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    LOL! The CAC God has spoken! You must like the coins he likes!

    @CoinscratchFever said:
    Smells fishy. Does CAC keep photographic records? Can these slabs be opened and resealed?

  • mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 5,751 ✭✭✭✭✭

    $25 coin.

  • CoinscratchCoinscratch Posts: 7,396 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @amwldcoin said:
    LOL! The CAC God has spoken! You must like the coins he likes!

    @CoinscratchFever said:
    Smells fishy. Does CAC keep photographic records? Can these slabs be opened and resealed?

    Well, this was either a really bad idea, a super bad picture, a missing Buffalo, or a re-purposed CAC sticker.
    At what point did CAC start CACing because I can’t see this happening?

    Even in the 80s and 90s when LSD was still prevalent and designer drugs were just hitting the market. Maybe we could lean on @mfeld for a little clarification and scientific hypotheses.
    Why not, I’m in the mood and will digress.

  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 18, 2021 8:53AM

    Need Glasses, Charlie?

  • jclovescoinsjclovescoins Posts: 1,835 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yikes. No way is that coin a 65 and CAC

  • Coll3ctorColl3ctor Posts: 3,308 ✭✭✭

    Yikes :s

  • clarkbar04clarkbar04 Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think it’s silly to claim something fishy went on in the grading of a 125 dollar coin. I’ll also guess it looks much better in hand. Those photos do a decent job showing the color but make the rest of it look bad. In that die state it probably has super luster.

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭✭✭

    And I don’t think anyone has mentioned the beautiful label that ngc has put on the inside of the reverse of the slab.
    Kind of says it all I think! -- “umismatic uarantee corporation of america”.

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,726 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 17, 2021 7:16AM

    @CoinscratchFever said:

    @amwldcoin said:
    LOL! The CAC God has spoken! You must like the coins he likes!

    @CoinscratchFever said:
    Smells fishy. Does CAC keep photographic records? Can these slabs be opened and resealed?

    Well, this was either a really bad idea, a super bad picture, a missing Buffalo, or a re-purposed CAC sticker.
    At what point did CAC start CACing because I can’t see this happening?

    Even in the 80s and 90s when LSD was still prevalent and designer drugs were just hitting the market. Maybe we could lean on @mfeld for a little clarification and scientific hypotheses.
    Why not, I’m in the mood and will digress.

    CAC is confirmed:

    @BUFFNIXX said:

  • CoinscratchCoinscratch Posts: 7,396 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Zoins It must look much better in hand... :#

  • jomjom Posts: 3,360 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not sure of the 65 grade on that one. The only thing I was sure of what that this coin wasn't AU. I would have graded it a 63. Then again, what do I know.

    jom

  • clarkbar04clarkbar04 Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Zoins said:

    Here's PCGS MS65 to compare:

    On a random note, I own that coin. ANACS called that a 63 or 64 back in the day.

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,726 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 17, 2021 8:42AM

    @clarkbar04 said:

    @Zoins said:

    Here's PCGS MS65 to compare:

    On a random note, I own that coin. ANACS called that a 63 or 64 back in the day.

    Beautiful coin! Since the OP coin is a 65 CAC, I wonder if your coin is under graded?

  • clarkbar04clarkbar04 Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 17, 2021 8:42AM

    @Zoins said:

    @clarkbar04 said:

    @Zoins said:

    Here's PCGS MS65 to compare:

    On a random note, I own that coin. ANACS called that a 63 or 64 back in the day.

    Beautiful coin! Since the OP coin is a 65 CAC, I wonder if your coin is under graded?

    This one has never been sent in, but according to CAC most of the buffs in my collection are all C level to overgraded. (65 looks right though IMO)

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,589 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ah, the old grading from photos thing......

    I'm pretty sure you could take a photo of this coin that made it look solidly MS. It looks much better in the slab shots. What people are seeing as wear is probably some mix of die erosion and poor strike. If those areas show unbroken luster, it isn't wear. The toning gives it a bit of a rough planchet / ED look. I would have guessed MS, but something lower than 65.

  • ColonelJessupColonelJessup Posts: 6,442 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 17, 2021 8:54AM

    @tradedollarnut said:
    Back in 1989, before a certain former forum member started bragging about what he could do to Buffalo nickels, this was exceptional color....

    You weren't there.
    I was.
    The Forum wasn't even a gleam in @homerunhall's eye.
    This has not been, at any time since I started collecting again in 1972, considered "exceptional" color.

    If you mistyped and intended 1999, I was there and you weren't,
    Neither of the two best nickel doctors around (BM and NC) would have let that out the door. Not to mention that no one would waste their time on working with such poor quality raw material with so little value if successful. :)

    "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,726 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 17, 2021 9:16AM

    @BryceM said:
    Ah, the old grading from photos thing......

    I'm pretty sure you could take a photo of this coin that made it look solidly MS. It looks much better in the slab shots. What people are seeing as wear is probably some mix of die erosion and poor strike. If those areas show unbroken luster, it isn't wear. The toning gives it a bit of a rough planchet / ED look. I would have guessed MS, but something lower than 65.

    Most of us only have the photos to go on.

    Have you seen this in hand? Or are you also grading from photos?

    Perhaps that is die erosion and a poor strike, but if so, under market grading, I could see that as a MS55 ;)

  • clarkbar04clarkbar04 Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Probably just basing it on who has seen it.

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,726 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 17, 2021 9:19AM

    @clarkbar04 said:
    Probably just basing it on who has seen it.

    I am just wondering if he's in the same boat as us regarding grading from photos.

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