For fun- Buffalo Grading challenge

buffnut

Here's one for fun. Pictured below are three of my buffalo nickels. See if you can wager a guess at the grades from the reverse picture only. The obverses are all pretty much identical, and there are no excessive marks to limit the grade of one over another. All three are certified by PCGS, they are problem free coins. I purposefully did not reveal the date or mintmark, however one might be obvious. This might be tough since we are delving into the "gray area" of buffalo nickel grading. If it matters, these are all blue labels~

DIMEMAN

Where are the pics?

WoodenJefferson

rec78

Be forewarned that i stink at grading these--

1. VF-20
2. VF-35
3. VF30

Shamika

I'm not touching this challenge. Besides the fact that I haven't collected circulated Buffalo's for years.

I suspect one of these is a date that is frequently found poorly struck such as a 26-D or 27-D.

Shamika

Okay, okay, I'll play.

F-15
V-30
XF-40

Vetter

1: F15
2: F12
3: VF20 3 1/2 leg?

MrEureka

15
20
35

BTW, I think this is one of those threads where people are sure to seem smarter if they don't post. Myself included.

WoodenJefferson

VF-20
VF-20
VF-30

In that respective order

Also depends on old/young these slabs are also

Shamika

<< <i>BTW, I think this is one of those threads where people are sure to seem smarter if they don't post. >>


Aint that the truth!

Cam40

from left to right...12,20,15

MrEureka

It would be fun to crack all three and send them to PCGS and NGC, just to get some more answers. I'd kick in $20 towards the grading fees. Anyone else care to subsidize the game?

DennisH

VF20 VF25 VF30

DIMEMAN

Boy, I'm not touching this. That last one on the left went from 15 to 40???

Leiana

20 (flatness of the rims)

25 (fuller rims)

30 (complete rims and more detail)

Edited to add, one really needs to see the full coin, as in full pictures of the obverse and reverse to even begin to ballpark an estimate.

-Amanda

jdimmick

F-12
Vf-20
Vf-30


But would only purchase them at Fine money!

koynekwest

Under today's grading standards-FN15 VF20 VF20. Is that last a 1917-D 3HL?

koynekwest

I mean-is the last one a '36-D 3HL-not a '17-D.

DMWJR

15
30
20

gyocomgd

<< <i>It would be fun to crack all three and send them to PCGS and NGC, just to get some more answers. I'd kick in $20 towards the grading fees. Anyone else care to subsidize the game? >>



No, don't do it with these coins. Do it with mine--preferably, 10 of them. I can use the free submissions!

gyocomgd

VF 20, VF 35, VF35.
If you threw "funny" dates in there, all bets are off!

roadrunner

Don't see all that much difference in them. I'd call all 3 from

VF20,25,25. Ironically I can tell the difference in one mint state
point far more easily than the first 10 points of VFness.

roadrunner

Numismanic

VF-25
VF-35
VF-30

mgoodm3

8
12
10

intocoins

1- fine-12
2- vf-20
3- vf-20

coinkat

I like the last one best... I would say 30. The secod is probably 20 with a shot at 25 and the first one misses VF and is F15

buffnut

Here are the answers!

The first is a 1924S that graded PCGS F15
The second is my 1926S that graded PCGS F12
The third is a 1936D 3 1/2 legger that PCGS gave VF20

The 26S I thought would at least go F15 or VF20. These grades are difficult to judge, and are often hotly contested depending on whether you are using 'old school' or 'new school' standards. PCGS seems to actually find a centerground of sorts. NGC would probably go VF25-35 on these, from what I have seen of their VF grading on buffs.

No fair if you looked at my registry set page for the answers!

Cam40

daaaaamn, i had the grades right, just not on the right coins...

intocoins

Hey Nut, your 26-S looks alot better than your 24-S. I bet you could get an upgrade on that coin with the new standards. Send both the 24-s and the 26-s in for upgrade and see what they come back.

billboat

I was going to say 20, 30, 20--WOW was I off!

buffnut

If you'd like to see the full obverse and reverses, just click on the "My Registry Set" link in my sig line. Then send me a donation to help complete it

yellowjacket

I would have said 15, 30, 30.

Crack that 26-S out and resubmit that boy.

I still like to tell about my 18/17-D overdate purchased in an ANACS 20, cracked it and it came back PCGS 15. Cracked it and it came back NGC 30. Then I crossed it to a PCGS 30. Done!

I like your 36-D 3 1/2 legger as I have said before.

You have a very good eye for udergraded buffs.

Garrow

DMWJR

I got the first and third, but blew the second. I don't see the 26-s as a 12, unless there is something on the obverse holding it back. Maybe they believe that one would be resubmitted multiple times because of the date?

I don't get F12 on that one.

Vetter

<< <i>Here are the answers!

The first is a 1924S that graded PCGS F15
The second is my 1926S that graded PCGS F12
The third is a 1936D 3 1/2 legger that PCGS gave VF20 >>



Boy, I nailed it! Sometime you get luck I guess.

MikeInFL

<< <i>It would be fun to crack all three and send them to PCGS and NGC, just to get some more answers. I'd kick in $20 towards the grading fees. Anyone else care to subsidize the game? >>



I will donate $20 to the experiment...Mike

jmj3esq

1. F12
2. VF20
3. F12

Barndog

the first one looks like a First-Strike™ Buffalo Nickel!