Which one do you like more?

MastaHanky

Coin 1:


Coin 2:


The strike on them is about the same...the first one is better struck in a few places and the second one is better struck in a few places.

The luster on coin 2 is much more prominent than on coin 1. However, there are more ticks visible to the naked eye on coin 2, especially on the bison.

I own both of them...I picked up one of them because I thought I liked it more than the one I currently possess. Now I'm undecided. So help me decide! (The other coin may be available for purchase once I've made up my mind.)

Catch22

I tend to go for the more natural color as opposed to the dull toning. If natural, the whiter the better as far as I'm concerned. All else being equal, that is.

MadMonk

I love original toning, but #1 looks dull, and really not all that attractive for whats possible with this series. #2 looks pretty good, but too plain jane. Plus, I believe I see too many disturbances on the lower rim (#2). I'd find a prettier one and sell them both.
But, I am real picky, and look for pizazz in a coin. If I had to make a choice, Id grudgingly pick #1

baccaruda

i like number 1 better. looks more natural.

nwcs

#2 appeals to me a bit more than #1

Steve27

I go with luster every time; thus, number 2 is my favorite.

ccrdragon

Luster, luster luster!

#2 everytime!

airplanenut

When I scanned my slightly toned 38-d, it came out dull... I'd think coin #1 still has lots of luster and i think the color is really nice... I go with #1... PM me for my address

Jeremy

prooflike

I tend to llike really shiney(hi-luster) buffalo nickels, but I also like the obverse and reverse to match in color. If I had to choose, I'd take number one because of the color match, but I don;t have to choose, so I'd get neither.

tjkillian

I like #2, the color it was when struck.

Tom

Placid

#2 if the scratches are on the holder.

Rotts

#2 Looks really nice. Rotts

kaleidoscopic

2222222222222 Kscope

smprfi

#1

vega1

You sure those arent the same coin? (marks on the indians shoulder are identical)

Anyway #2 based on the scans would be my vote.

relayer

I like #1 - more original

dorkkarl

i would go w/ most original coin 1st, but if equal there, the better struck one. minute nicks & marks at the choice unc level don't bother me one bit. they're COINS, to be USED, not , well, stuff that's not supposed to be used. like beeny babies.

K S

coppercoins

Detail, detail, detail.

Two things cause it, and I look for those two things in similar coins, and judge from there.

1. Strike - If the strike is more solid on one than the other, take it. If they are similar in strike...

2. Die state - When the dies are fresh and new, the details come out much better. As dies age and wear, the details become mushy.

Coin #2 appears to have the better of both worlds. The places to look at for die wear on that design are the letters of LIBERTY on the obverse and the letters around the top of the reverse along with the bison's tail. Whichever one is sharper is the one I would choose, and it appears that the lower image is the earlier die state (sharper) coin.

Considering they are both slabbed, I am also assuming they both have rather original surfaces and neither has been cleaned.

Another important point, everything else I've psted aside - take the one that best matches the rest of your collection and toss the other. If your other nickels (either by type or series) have color and are somewhat dull, keep the top one. If the others are white and lustrous, keep the bottom one.

aeast236

I like coin #1 because of its natural and even toning on both obverse and reverse. If deciding between a blast white coin or a toned coin, a naturally toned coin wins every time in my collection. From the scan it is difficult to discern which has the better strike, but even if the 2nd one is marginally better struck, I would still pick #1. MS65 perhaps? Also, have you seen any pictures from days gone with an indian, or anyone from that time period, that looks like he has taken a bath recently. I have also seen buffalos roll in the dirt (could be the red dirt in Oklahoma for pretty toning) which in my book is more historically accurate and better represented by coin #1

asnooker

It's number 1 for me. I want an older coin to look it's age without looking worn. If that makes any sense?

berylcoin

Assuming its has some luster I'd choose #1, mostly due to the nice even toning. If the obverse of #2 were toned more like its reverse I'd have probably gone the other way.

BC

coindaughter

I like #1. It's got more character.

MastaHanky

Gee thanks, you guys are a lot of help, ten votes for each of them.

I'd keep the one that matches the rest of my collection more, but even that's tough...the first one matches my 23S and 29S nicely, the second one matches my 17S and my 21P nicely...

GAAAAAAAAAA

Stupid hobby.

(And bringing this to the top for some last opinions from the night crew.)

BigD5

If the luster is good on the first coin, I'd go with that one. The strikes' look similar, so a wash, for me, in that department. The second one looks to have more "marks", but they're small and not a bid deal for me. If the top coin is "flat", I'd go with number 2. I'm trying to figure out if that helps at all
Good luck!!

darktone

I like the first one. mike