QUESTION: 1916 Buffalo Nickels

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Are these considered a type unto themselves? I have read some accounts that agree.
The one I have in PCGS 64 seems to have quite a bit more detail than others I own in higher grade.

Bill

kranky

David Lange says the quality of strike varies widely on 1916-P Buffs, most of the D-mint ones are weak in the central obverse and the bison's shoulder but well-struck pieces can be found, and the S-mint are difficult to find fully-struck. He doesn't mention anything unique to the 1916 issues.

WWW

Thanks Kranky. Here's the reverse:



I can't get the colors (gold, blue-silver and purple )right on this one, and the details get lost towards the edges, but it works for now.
I've got to start using a tripod to allow a slower exposure and thus better depth of field though a smaller aperture. Huh?

Bill

BigD5

Nice coin! I've never heard of a seperate type for 16's.

ANACONDA

What makes them different?

WWW

The obverse level of detail around the mouth, neck and braids.
Maybe it's simply that these were struck with more pressure.
Or, I'm full of it.

jom

1916-P is a fairly common date. The strike on this one, although pretty darn good, is NOT full believe it or not. There is "slight" (and I mean slight) weakness in the hair above the braid and the shoulder of the Buffalo (up the front leg) is "slightly" weak. This would satifsy most people though as a well struck coin but this goes to show you hard it is to find stuck ones, even on a common date.

jom

BNE

They changed the dies in 1916 to improve the detail, especially on "LIBERTY" and the date. I also think that 1916's "come nicer" than a lot of other years.

Still, there are nicely struck, detailed early ones -- like this one I won last night.