Offer opinions on toner buffalo grade

Tonedbuff

I just worked a trade for this buffalo. I am thinking 65 on it. Anyone see anything that would cause it to go lower or higher than this? Its a nice strike for a 20's D mint buff for the most part, and I love the eye appeal!

Thoughts or opinions?

SilverEagles92

MS66 IMO.

Leiana

Looks like a solid 65. I do see a minor mark on the Indian's cheek that would keep me from giving it a 66.

-Amanda

dizzyfoxx

Very, very pretty.

ziggy29

I don't see any problem that would keep it from going 5.

123cents

MS-65.

Numismanic

MS64, obverse strike limits the grade IMO. NGC might give it a bump for color though.

caitlin

Nice coin and very nice toning little flat on the centrail obverse and buffs shoulder and head.

I'd have to say ms64. toning might add a point but I'll stick with 64. still a keeper.

NumisOxide

Great color.

MS64

CoinResource

Nice coin should do well....

Tonedbuff

Can any of the folks going 64 point to what would drive that grade? In general, I've found a relatively week strike allowable in the D mints from teh 20's, and still think this should be able to pull a 65, perhaps helped along a bit by the eye appeal. Outside of strike, are there any technical reasons this would not go 65 (yeah, I know, its just a photo, hard to tell...). I'm thinking NGC to grade it by the way. Any chance of a * for eye appeal? I won't screetch at a 64, but I'd be dissapointed. I am really hoping to pull a 65. The fields in particular are phenominal on this coin. Even in the pic you can see the luster pushing through the nice colors. Instead of a slightly week strike pulling this to 65, I'd see the slightly week strike as the thing that keep this from going 66.

Time will tell!

(Don't we all love the slab game. I could simply holder this myself, graded legitimately as a 65 and it is what it is... instead I need NGC to tell me what it is.
Oh what a wonderful hobby...

MikeInFL

I would be looking for rub under that toning. Regardless, what a pretty buff...Mike

Tonedbuff

By the way, I'll put in a plug for Randal P Holder, who runs a great ebay store. I have purchased about a half dozen really nice toned buffs and the nice blue V nickel in my sigline from Randal and always been very happy! This coin is one he and I just agreed to on a trade, for something that may be technically 'worth more' but I don't collect, and its a diffucult to place rarity. I can't wait to get this thing!
I sure wish I knew where he got his raw buffs...

Tonedbuff

<< <i>I would be looking for rub under that toning. Regardless, what a pretty buff...Mike >>



Always the risk in buying toned raw buffalo's, especially the D mints with weaker strikes... weak strike and rub can be confused for each other, and you can over pay...
Three things going for me I think. The photo seems to indicate a really sharp hip on the buffalo, the luster seems to be consistent, not indicative of rub breaks, and most important, I've bought from this seller a good few times and never found him to have significantly over grades, and definately never missed any rub on the coins. He's always delivered a fairly graded coin. So, I am trusting on this one.
But, as a trade of something I don't want, I am happy either way!

Bruceswar

That coin could very well go MS65 or it could be MS64. But with a coin of this nature does it really matter? I assume this coin is for you and you will not be selling it. Just my thoughts. Sweet coin regaurdless of what any TPG Says.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>I am thinking 65 on it. >>

Elcontador

I'm not familiar with the coin.

What is sheet on the date in 4 vs. 5, and what is the material that you traded for the coin worth?
These are the questions I would ask.

Also, what is the bluesheet spread re 4 & 5 in PC & NGC? While this certainly isn't a bluesheeet coin, you need to have an idea of what NGC coins you own (or might own) sell for when compared with their PC counterparts.

96eagle

NGC 66 star. That is some gorgeous toning.

96eagle

gyocomgd

<< <i>By the way, I'll put in a plug for Randal P Holder, who runs a great ebay store. I have purchased about a half dozen really nice toned buffs and the nice blue V nickel in my sigline from Randal and always been very happy! This coin is one he and I just agreed to on a trade, for something that may be technically 'worth more' but I don't collect, and its a diffucult to place rarity. I can't wait to get this thing!
I sure wish I knew where he got his raw buffs... >>



A lot of nice coins, but overpriced. In my opinion, he grades more softly than the top TPGs would, then discounts. A Buffalo he touts as MS66 and valued at, say, $1,500, is actually 65 and worth $800. He offers "Buy It Now" at $1,250 and you think you have a rip, but when it comes back in a 65 or 64 holder, rats! I'm not saying he overgrades deliberately and cravenly, and there obviously is some pressure to paint the best picture he can, as he needs to make a living. Also, an inordinate number of his Buffs are prominently toned; "great color" is almost always mentioned. Rarely are the coins blast white or gleaming reflective. It's unusual for that many Buffs to acquire such dramatic toning.
With that, Randy is a very nice fellow and runs a good shop--fast delivery, low shipping and very easy to deal with. Moreover, he has the best coin photographs on eBay, and I like going to his store just to look. All in all, he's a better seller than most.

gyocomgd

By the way, the coin looks 64 with a shot at 65. I know you want to go beyond strike, but that's what we look for in the Denver mint through this general date range, and this coin is very, very nice. The reverse is terrific; the obverse more typical. There is that mark below the Indian's chin, and the buffalo's foreleg and above it does have that slightly pockmarked look. I still don't know what causes that--the die being worn/abraded?

LanLord

Man, caitlin said just exactly what I was thinking.

And it is a really pretty coin.

STONE

With the toning, I could see that going to a 66-if not the 65 for sure.

Tonedbuff

I have found that, like most sellers, the coins can sometimes be off by a grade, however, I've never paid the BIN either, but always made offers on coins I am interested in, or purchased the coins he has on actual auctions. I've often found he will advertise an MS65+ and it will be a PQ 64, or a 65, but certainly not above the grade offered. I've found every coins I've bought to grade within a reasonable range, and I've always paid a grade down from what is listed, so no problem. He does have an unusual number of nice toners, but the toning has always appeared genuin to me, and I've never had a bodybag from NGC, or ANAC's.
I go where the toned buffs are... and he has a few all the time.
Anyhow, this particular buff could go 64, I'm certainly not arguing. I am HOPING that the really nice reverse strike, the nice fields, and the toning carry a 65. That would make me a very happy guy.

Time will tell... though with the waiting times I've had this year with NGC... its gonna be a long time...

coinguy1

That 1928-D Buffalo nickel looks like a very attractive 65, based upon the images. However, I already know that most coins can't be graded accurately from images.

From what is apparent, though, the strike, surface quality and luster look sufficient for an 65, and the color is great. PCGS doesn't grade many of that issue as MS66's, so that grade would really be fighting the odds. If there is friction on the coin (on the Indian's cheek or hair, or the buffalo's upper left hind leg?) that is not obvious in the images, the coin could grade less than MS65.

Tonedbuff

Just noticed that NCG has never star designated a 28D.
Hard to get a star, and seemingly random... but heck, that would make even an MS64* a special coin.
Looks like I'm going to have to pay for an express and get that 'special' attention you only get when you pay extra