The fun in grading Buffalo Nickels…….GRADES REVEALED
Vetter
Posts: 871 ✭✭✭✭✭
This series has got to be up there as one of the hardest series to grade. Here are 3 coins with all the same date. All are graded by our host. 2 of them have a CAC sticker. Anyone care to give a guess on the grades without cheating? These are not mine (well 1 is) I wish they were all mine.
Okay. Drum roll please for the reveal.
1. PCGS VF20
2. PCGS F12 CAC
3. PCGS F12 CAC
Judging the grade guesses it just shows me just how hard these are to grade. Admittedly the small number of guesses should not be taken as a majority. Let the discussion begin.
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2
Comments
Not going to venture a guess, but nice 8 over 7
Focusing on the horns and the hair ribbons, I'm gonna do a swag at VF. But what do I know. Nice overdates. Peace Roy
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1- 25
2-30
3-20
2 and 3 got the CAC- edited to add green CAC
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
** This series has got to be up there as one of the hardest series to grade.**
It’s probably one of the most inconsistently graded series….which I guess is another way of saying it’s hard to grade. And strike issues, and strike disparities between obverse and reverse, are a big part of the problem.
I'm seeing 1+3 as F15's and the middle at VF20
20,30,20
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.....Mark Twain
Guessing 15s
Top 2 are CAC
20, 30, 15
35, 30, 20 sticker on 1 and 3
20
25
20
That was with no peeking!
25
30
20
1 and 3 are cac
Tom
You're right, this is what makes grading Buffalo Nickels so hard. My guess would be:
25
30
20
Years ago, those would have all been called Fine.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
30, 40, 25
I certainly agree that this is a most difficult coin to grade, and even worse in ways than the $2.5 and $5 Indians. I think there is a degree of subjectivity with varying strike issues by date and mm, wear, and even IMHO metal content (with regards to the later I would like to see at least surface alloy tests by XRF).
So my approach as a collector, and only having a few, with no commercial interests will only occasional get modestly priced pieces based on their appeal to me. I check grades for reference but don't let them sway unduly.
I like the OP pieces FWIW, but unless I found them really don't personally value the overdates or DD like the 1916.
Grades?
Well I will venture, green stickers only (I just was not enamored of coin #2):
25 sticker
25 - this one has in my view some issues with rub esp. around and over buff's horns, etc.
20 sticker
BTW, I have had swings of 3+ points on low to mid unc. coins between the TPGs so they are not always crystal clear on them either.
Well, just Love coins, period.
I would say 20, 25, 20..... Cheers, RickO
I am really wondering what the second coin looks like in hand...
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I know that less weight should be given to the horn, and more to "overall wear", but coin 2 has a horn that is all there to the tip, with wear, lightness at the tip itself.
It's real easy to spew out numbers here, but I really think the second coin should be VF-20, with the third coin just missing at F-15.
Don't feel bad. I've been a Buff collector for over 50 years and still can't figure them out sometimes.
Pete
Coin #2 looks a lot better than F12, and it appears most of the guessers feel that way also.
With the big price spread it’s gotta be a good candidate for regrading.