Have you heard of the 1927 Special Strike Buffalo?

Aspie_Rocco

I just found this on CoinFacts and I never read about this before. Anyone have more details or an actual example? Supposedly 3 in existence... fascinating.

MFeld

Here’s a write-up of one:

https://coins.ha.com/itm/buffalo-nickels/nickels/1927-5c-sp65-ngc-cac-pcgs-3987-/a/1166-3097.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

JBK

Interesting.

How long until this story hits YouTube and everyone claims to have one?

ricko

Very interesting... I would like to see some magnified pictures of the 'micro-cracking' noted in the writeup..... Cheers, RickO

FlyingAl

It’s been there awhile from what I remember, so it seems it hasn’t taken off like the ‘64 SMS stuff has.

If memory serves, there was also a 1921 proof double eagle graded by NGC so it seems the mint was doing something with the designs or changed something that would require minting of higher quality coins for internal review.

fathom

Yes I have, but too late.

I think I saw one in a lot view but did not pull the trigger at auction.

Would have been a relatively cheap gamble.

CaptHenway

@FlyingAl said:
It’s been there awhile from what I remember, so it seems it hasn’t taken off like the ‘64 SMS stuff has.

If memory serves, there was also a 1921 proof double eagle graded by NGC so it seems the mint was doing something with the designs or changed something that would require minting of higher quality coins for internal review.

Many years ago when I worked at ANACS I spoke with a proverbial Little Old Lady who came in with a 1921 Double Eagle that had been given to her upon the occasion of her birth by her Uncle, who was the Superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint for part of 1921. Unfortunately, as a non-collector she had polished it many times over the years. It might have been a Proof when she received it, but you could not tell anymore. Did the Superintendent have a few made so that he could give his niece a nice present? We will never know.

FWIW, there is a badly mishandled 1921 Proof $20 known. I have looked art the pictures of it, but I could not say for sure if it was the same coin I saw at ANACS or not.

Che_Grapes

Now I want one - 1927 is one of my favorite dates.

BuffaloIronTail

@Che_Grapes said:
Now I want one - 1927 is one of my favorite dates.

Good luck, my friend. It's understandable to want one of those.

The fact that they're around today is due to them showing up in Chief Engraver John Sinnocks estate, and IMHOP were created to test a new chromium alloy to improve die life and durability, which actually was implemented the following year in 1928.

Sinnock had a taste for unique coins like the 1927 SPs.

Thank goodness they were saved.

Pete

Maywood

I remember reading about the Mint experimenting with Proof-ing around 1927-28, maybe it was in Breen's Encyclopedia. This is a good example of just buying items that standout as unusual when in a shop or at a show. Most often they turn out to be nothing, but sometimes they are treasures.

TurtleCat

Interesting looking at that old thread that got resurrected on these that all three originally graded 65. Now two are 66. With a pop of 3, I wonder what criteria was used to bump two to 66?

Note: it’s equally possible the two could have graded 66 back then but weren’t for some reason. It’s just rare that we have three distinct coins that we can see that two changed grades over the intervening years.

BaronVonBaugh

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1070448/from-an-old-heritage-auction-1927-buffalo-nickel-special-strike#latest

crazyhounddog

That particular coin (1927 Special Strike.) I’d love to see in hand with proper lighting, my favorite loupe, and of course a very comfortable chair. Probably the most interesting buffalo nickel ever struck. I would travel to see it too.
Great topic 👍

Relaxn

Doesn't @BUFFNIXX claim to have one in a SEGS holder?

Namvet69

Great write up link, the markers explained and the mint records are outstanding. Thanks. Peace Roy

Goldenage

Thanks. Nice coins for sure.

leothelyon

,

Treashunt

I remember reading about it at the time

FlyingAl

@TurtleCat said:
Interesting looking at that old thread that got resurrected on these that all three originally graded 65. Now two are 66. With a pop of 3, I wonder what criteria was used to bump two to 66?

Note: it’s equally possible the two could have graded 66 back then but weren’t for some reason. It’s just rare that we have three distinct coins that we can see that two changed grades over the intervening years.

NGC graded 5 coins as 65 back in the 1990s, I got that info from the census and a thread ATS. So there aren’t 3 known, and it follows that two of the coins got a bump when they crossed to PCGS.