1926-D PCGS MS63 Buffalo Very curious
2windy2fish
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Was searching for a nice 26D for a set and ran across this on Ebay
Is it the photos? The cert checks ok, or is it the mushiest strike ever?
2
Comments
Doesn't look like it has any luster. Strange for sure.
Mid 20's D and S Buffalo's come very very very mushy. Finding nice ones are possible but you have to be patient.
Looks like a scan... but the mushy reverse is pretty.common.
Assuming that's how it looks in hand, no way. Mushy strike or no, any coin in that grade will have luster. I hope whoever buys that checks the holder for tampering.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
1926-D is one of the worst struck Buffalo Nickels in the entire series. It's difficult to get a decent coin to grade because of the strike.
The coin you are looking at is a typical representation of the way that most 1926-D's were struck. It seems to have gotten its notoriety from being listed in the Red Book, and other date and Mints also share in the shame for coins in this condition, though it does seem like 1926-D is the leader of the pack.
There were nicely struck specimens of this coin, but they are few and far between, and even decently struck coins share some striking problems.
The flat at the tip top feather is the hallmark for this coin, along with a horn that is so badly rendered on some nickels because it wasn't all there from when the coins dropped out of the coining chamber. The coin in this picture seems to have a full, but very weak horn showing.
Smeary, lightly struck and unevenly struck coins are common.
I once ran into an XF 1926-D that was very well struck and showed nice detail.
The problem was that the top feather was so flat that the tip wasn't there, and the horn just faded off into nothingness.
You can hold out for a better struck coin, but it won't be easy to find.
Take your time and shop around.
Pete
This is one coin that, to be properly evaluated for grade, would have to be viewed in hand.... Because the pictures sure make it look less than MS. It could be a very weak strike - as this is a known issue with Buffs of this period. However, on this coin, it would be necessary to see it in hand. Cheers, RickO
I'd grade that coin MS-63/VG Details
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Buffs are not my series but I would have never guessed that to be a MS grade. No luster compared to the other MS 26-D's on eBay with the same mushy strike.
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As others have alluded to, the strike is not unheard of for the issue, and I suspect the look of luster and lack thereof is a matter of the imaging. I would look at the sellers other items to get a sense whether that is the best that he can do. Then, with curiosity satisfied, move on. Never settle for "better than the worst", and with patience a decent example will emerge. Despite all the hoopla, decently to well struck 26-Ds can be found. The image below is of my PCGS 55.
Buffalo Nickel Digital Album
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Nice one, Alain. Still the flat feather.
The only one worse that 1926-D for feathers is the 1924-D.
Perhaps this was an omen of things to come?
Pete
This is a coin that I would not want at any price.
No one is thinking bogus holder or mechanical error here?
@ad4400 that is one awesomely struck 26-D. I love it!
I think the holder was tampered with or a fake holder.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
No... Holder is not fake or tampered with... Look around at the 21-s, 23-s, 24 d,s 25-s, 26-d,s Reverses come FLAT in MS grade and they are very annoying. Mushy strikes are the norm for a lot of the Buffs.
I have a 26-d from @ad4400 which is a great strike P63 OGH with CAC... Lovely coin. Cannot overstate how nice the 55 he posted is... A buff set with strike as the primary importance would be a huge $$$ set. WE tried for a while... But just got priced out on the 24 d,s and 26-s.
That's a hard pass, jmo
@Relaxn i got a really nice 23 S from @ad4400.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Your going to find nicely struck Buffs for all dates and Mints. It's just a matter of how many.
Among them are dates where there are no examples known with full strikes. 1927-D is a good example.
Another anomaly is that the best struck coin for 1921 is the 1921-S from San Francisco.
It's all just a part of this "Buffalo Thing" (and the challenges) of finding the best coin.
Pete