1916 2 feather Buffalo Nickel

mayor1

Anybody have knowledge on how tough the 1916 2 feather is? Thanks, Bill.

goose3

I wouldn't think that those abraided die nickels would be too hard to find even in dealer's "Junk" bins. I never even heard of them until just a couple of years ago. I would guess that if a person searched long and hard enough that he may be able to find a 2 feather for just about every year of the series.

here's a tough 1916 to find.

Shamika

goose3 is right in my opinion. I think these varieties are pretty cool, but I don't think they are as rare as you'd think they are. I once say a 2-feather 1925-S Buffalo nickel in a PCGS MS64 slab. It was unattributed. I would have bought it if it wasn't a mint state piece (and thus very pricey).

mayor1

Thanks Goose and Shamika for your input. Just had one come in grading XF-AU, guess it will go on the Bay. Thanks again Bill.

BuffaloIronTail

Two-Feather abraided dies are a collectable variety in the Buffalo series. The verdict is not out on rarity, though. Individual dates and mints in the series are decidedly rare, while others are always seen. The only way to guage rarity is to tally the number of reports from collectors and try to make an educated guess.

It is easy to see why some might be rare. The dies might have been scrapped very shortly after the re-working, or they may have lasted a while and coined a lot of specimens.

I collect them when I find them. I won't pay an arm and a leg for them, though.

Pete

dorancoins

<< <i>Anybody have knowledge on how tough the 1916 2 feather is? Thanks, Bill. >>



Bill, glad to see you here. I wish I had an answer to your question.

DDR

BuffaloIronTail,

About how much would a 1916 two feathered Buffalo Nickel go for in circulated condition say Fine?

koynekwest

I have been collecting these for over 30 years. The 1916, 1918-S, 1921, and 1925-S are fairly easy to find. Many of the other dates are quite rare-1913-S Var1, 1915-D, 1919-S, 1920-S 1923, 1926, 1927-D, and 1930-S are among the toughest. They have, as of late, become quite collectable and even the "easy" ones I mention are getting tougher to find. I currently have 25 different date/Mint coins listed that I refer to as "True two feather varieties." Other dates still show a small remnant of the small feather.

bigtonydallas

koynekwest - I have a 25-s and a 17-d. How rare is the 17-d? Both coins are a G+ on the grade. Do you have an example of a 17-d? What is the full list of 2 feather and 2 1/2 feathers? The 2 1/2 feathers are the ones with a remnant of the third feather.

Thanks.

Smittys

I have a 1915 Two feather

koynekwest

The 1915 is a fairly tough one. Some of the newer ones (since the last posting four years ago) that have been either confirmed or have been reliably reported are the following:

1923 (this one is also a Class VI doubled die obverse)-it's rare
1925 Must be very rare-reliably reported (I have an image) but I've yet to see an actual specimen
1926 Same comments as above
1926-D-a later die state of the already rare 2 1/2 feather-I've only seen one
1929 Same comments as to the 1925 and 1926 above

RichieURich

Of the ones Koynekwest just listed, I have only the 1926-D. The 1917-D 2 feather is listed in Cherrypickers and although most of the URS ratings for these varieties in the CPG are too low, the 1917-D is IMO close to being correct. For those interested, there is a new book (which is excellent) called Buffalo Nickels The Abraded Die Varieties by Ron Pope, which has more info on these and other Buffalo 5c varieties than you can shake a stick at. I'm not sure where it's available, perhaps another poster can give us some more info.

koynekwest

Rich-

That's my book. I have one listed on ebay right now. Thanks for the plug.

RichieURich

<< <i>Rich-

That's my book. I have one listed on ebay right now. Thanks for the plug. >>



In the interest of full disclosure, I have no financial interest in the book, nor did Ron ask me to plug his book. It's a great book for those interested in this topic!

Jcarney

<< <i>Two-Feather abraided dies are a collectable variety in the Buffalo series. >>



Please educate me here. I thought a variety was an intended design variation. An abraided die sounds more like an error. Would these coins really be considered varieties?

koynekwest

Nope-not a design variation. It is caused by the same exact process that caused the 1937-D 3 legged variety (and the several 3 1/2 legged varieties that are also known)-i.e. excessive lapping of the die to remove clashes. Like the right lower foreleg on the reverse, the small feather is a shallow design element and easily obliterated by any vigorous polishing of the die. Technically, I suppose these coins would be considered distinct die stages of the die rather than actual die varieties.

Shamika

<< <i>For those interested, there is a new book (which is excellent) called Buffalo Nickels The Abraded Die Varieties by Ron Pope, which has more info on these and other Buffalo 5c varieties than you can shake a stick at. >>


Agreed! Great book.

greghansen

Over the years, I've accumulated several of the dates...and enjoy reading others experiences in finding them. IMO, these are a great variety to start a YN on, if you have one. They can generally still be found with some patience and you don't need a loupe to see the variety...which means you can look through a lot of coins quickly!

Jcarney

<< <i>It is caused by the same exact process that caused the 1937-D 3 legged variety >>



OK, so it is the result of an action taken by the Mint, so is intentional. Thanks!

koynekwest

These can still be found in dealer's stock, but it's getting tougher to do. To obtain a complete set of all the known 2 feather dates would be quite an accomplishment.