i need some opinions on my latest ebay score...

JTMC

earlier today i snaged a 1938 D/S buffalo nickle on ebay. item #3903275653. ( sorry i dont know how to linky dink). its not slabed. but when i saw the pic i just had to 'buy it now.' if it does actually grade a 66 then i am pretty sure i got a good deal. i got sniped on one in pcgs ms65 slab by $3 total price was $243. and then a little while later i spoted the one i got . what do you all think? i need your opinions because i have to see if i am getting better at picking raw coins.

john

Wolfy00002

looks kinda plain to me.

Russ

I think you paid too much for it.

Russ, NCNE

ldhair

I need to think about it.

JTMC

sorry about that.


ttt

ldhair

link

ColonialCoinUnion

I think it looks too good. And too good is no good in an eBay raw auction. Seller didn't have much to say about a return policy either. Or I'm just paranoid.

Dog97

I can usually nitpick most coins & auctions apart but I can't find much bad to say about that one.
Hope it does turn out to be a good transaction after all.

Placid

What going on with the tip of the feather? Pictures kind of hard to tell alot. Hope its nice it should be for that price.

jpumper

I bought alot from him long ago and he tends to grade WAY over reality. He also sold a bunch of PCI slabs "with a reduction in price" versus PCGS-----I bought it at the time and now say HOGWASH to him and his WHOLE purpose-------he's another ripoff----IMO

JohnZ

I hope it's a good coin.

I've looked extensively at the sellers history (last 50 auctions), but I can't make a judgement without seeing the coin in person, or at least with a better photo. The D over S is not clearly shown in his auction pics, which makes me suspicious...

Can you post a pic once you receive the coin?

SDCollector

I hope it works out for you. But raw over $100 with no clear return policy would make me nervous. Then again I'm not much of an eBayer.

Strat

Looks like a really nice coin to me, but I would have to agree with Russ, I think you paid too much. The reason why is because uncirculated 38D Buffalo Nickels are usually quite nice, with ample luster and a strong strike. This one, as far as I can tell from the pic, doesn't look like it has a split tail, which wouldn't be that big of a deal on a 38D anyway, so I have to wonder if it is really a D/S, as described. If it isn't an overmintmark variety, you might have just paid a world record price for an untoned regular issue 38D in MS66. Heck, PCGS MS67 38D's bluesheet for all of near $200, so I really hope it's the variety.

If it isn't, try to return it immediately and don't gamble on raw coins unless you can at least look at 'em first and grade them for yourself. Good luck, and hope it turns out well for you.

MFH

It looks very nice, but you over paid for it. Don't think you're alone in doing this, I do it all the time, but now I only buy certified PCGS or NGC coins. If my favorite dealer says she has a raw coin I need, all I ask her is "will it slab at PCGS" and if she hesitates for a second, then I pass.

JTMC

thanks for all your input guys.
well i guess we can tell from this little episode that i need alot of work on picking raw coins on ebay. i will post pics of this coin when i receive it. i just hope its a d/s. i dont have one for my collection . i know its a common date but there was just something about how it looked that made me want it. i guess i usually just base my decisions on eye appeal more than any other criteria. i usually do better with SLQ'S which i have been collecting on and off for about the last 10 years. i am fairly new to buffalo nickles.

john

Spinynorman

Another thing. If it is a D/S, which one is it? The seller doesn't claim it is OMM#1...

D/S listing