Did I make a mistake on this Buffalo?

Shamika

Guys,

I'm starting to get cold feet, but I've already committed. Did I spend WAY too much money on this auction? This is a date that I've been wanting for a while.

1927-D Buffalo

On the positive side, the strike is better than I've seen in ANY GRADE and the surfaces look plenty clean. The luster appears only so-so, but David Lange claims in his Buffalo Nickel text that the luster of this issue is usually less than satisfactory.

On the negative side, the toning appears a little dark, and I'm not in total agreement with Lange's claim with regards to luster.

PCGS lists a price of $750 in MS64 and $10,000 for MS65. Although these prices are a little above recent auction trends, the spread does accurate portray the price disparity between MS64 and MS65. I am of the belief that a high-end coin should support a significant price increase when such vast spreads exist, but I'm still concerned.

Did I just blow it?

Placid

Nope, at least not as bad as this.

Shamika

Placid,

I don't think the coin you linked sold as it is still listed as a "post auction bargain". If it did, somebody got taken for a ride in my opinion.

dorkkarl

only 2 things matter:

1 - did you buy it sight-unseen?
2 - do you like it? i mean, really really like it?

of course, tough to answer #2 if the answer to #1 is "no".

K S

mgoodm3

If the coin is above average quality for the date you should expect to pay some premium for it. enjoy it.

BigE

Shamika, I'll bet that coin looks way better when you get it-I think you did just fine----BigE

Shamika

"Only two things matter: 1 - did you buy it sight-unseen? 2 - do you like it? i mean, really really like it?"

Karl,

Although I was not able to see the coin in person, I did contact J.B.Stevens of this forum to get a first hand look since he was at the show. Without prompting he confirmed pretty much everything I suspected, but he's more of a fanatic for silver dollars than Buffalos so it's probably unfair of me to expect him to know the series as well as I do. None the less, I believe he has a good eye.



BigE,

I learn in about a week what the coin really looks like. Sure hope you're right.

jeffnpcb

Is that 2nd one, the NGC 27-D a rotated die???

Shamika

jeffnpcb,

Yes it is!

Please don't tell me you bought it?

jom

I wish you could have contacted me. I could have taken a look for you and I am a Buffalo fan

If you want to compare the coin you bought and the one Placid linked then Placid's is a nicer coin BY THE PICTURE. But as I've learned the last couple of years Heritage pictures are far from perfect.

I think you should really and I mean REALLY consider what dorkkarl asked. If you really like the coin the price is really not all that important to a certain point. Paying a premium is not unusual (I did the same thing in that same auction on a gold coin) so if you like it then no big deal. If you don't then you are stuck with a coin you don't like and you'll lose money trying to sell it off.

jom

PS: Try not to buy coins sight unseen.

Shamika

JOM,

Thanks for your offer. I'll take you up on it in the future. JB is a good guy and he was available when I needed someone.

Although I would prefer not to buy coins sight unseen, Long Beach may as well be China considering the distance I'd have to go (I live in Western Massachusetts).

I'm curious, why do you think the NGC coin is nicer? It does appear to have better luster and I like the color, but the strike is very average, the dies are eroded, and there are at least three splotches on the buffalos back as well as a visible spot on his hump. I have nothing against NGC, but in this case the PCGS coin looks better to me.

Please let me know.

OnlyBuffalos

I believe you have a good chance of being pleased with the coin especially if you compare it to other MS64s for the date. The strike for this coin is far better than usually seen. If the luster is nice, you have a sure winner. This is a real tough date to find well-struck with pleasing luster.

jom

<< <i>I'm curious, why do you think the NGC coin is nicer? >>



First of all, it isn't a matter of comparing grading services. I'm just looking at the coins. The "NGC coin" is just brighter although slightly less of a strike in the Buff shoulder area. Again, the "brightness" could be a matter of just the camera shot considering it is very difficult to get similar shots with the white background of the NGC slab vs. the darker back of the PCGS slab. If I could remember the coins from the lot viewing I could have given a much better evaluation to you.

jom

darktone

I think you did fine. Just sit back and enjoy it it's not like you could not resell it and recoup your money. mike

benloe

Very nice coin. You will be well pleased.

Shamika

"It's not like you could not resell it and recoup your money."

That's exactly my main concern. Although I don't ever intend on selling my coins, the day will come soon enough and I'd like to know that my hobby has at least not cost me too much money.

darktone

I don't think you have to worry about that with quality coins. mike

michael

for me

i think you did fine
in fact very good and i bet that the coin will look much MUCH better in person!!

i think you will be pleasantly surprised!



michael

BigD5

It can be a catch-22 with some of those branch dates on the buffalo nickels. You can get lustrous coins with a bit of "pop" (the second coin), or you can go for the better struck coins that are a bit more drab (the first coin). It's when you combine both attributes, strike and luster on those branch mints, that you get some of the astronomical prices paid, because it's a tough combo to find.
I think it's almost impossible to tell, from the images, which of those two coins is actually a "better" coin, although it probably more depends on where you weigh the different attributes of the surfaces.

jonesy

I think you paid a bit high but you got what you wanted. It's a really nice coin, and I bet its brighter in person. BTW I don't got that one yet you JERK!!!
You Suck!!!

jonesy

ttt

mojorizn

I like it! The strike is exceptional even for this particular issue which is typically better than most '20's branch mint coins. A little flatness on the shoulder but I'd still pay a premium for this coin if it were going into my collection.

The luster is typical from what I can see from the pic. Lange states in his guide that luster for this issue is just average to good as a result of heavily worn dies and that has been my observation as well.

Let us know what your impression is when you receive it. I think you will be pleasantly surprised as the coin is usually better than the pic. You may have paid a little more but I don't think this is an average coin. You did well!

Mojo

jonesy

ttt

jonesy

Shamika!! You Suck!!!

Shamika

Alright Jonesy, you're clearly trying to call me out. I've been traveling since Tuesday so I haven't been able to respond.

Yea, I may have paid too much. As far as I can tell, $1100 is a record price for this date in MS64, but like I said, it looks far better than any other MS64 that I've seen and I'm willing to pay more for PQ coins.

Unlike you with the spotted, drap, poorly struck pieces in your sorry a$$ collection.

jonesy

You SUCK!!!