What causes one side of a coin to be sharp and the other to be soft?

291fifth

There is another thread on a 1921-S Buffalo nickel that shows a coin with a very sharply struck obverse and a very mushy reverse.

What causes this type of strike?

TwoSides2aCoin

?

... bad photography ? Grease filled die ? Worn die or hub ? I'm speculatin' like I do with Gold.

ziggy29

<< <i>There is another thread on a 1921-S Buffalo nickel that shows a coin with a very sharply struck obverse and a very mushy reverse.

What causes this type of strike? >>

A new die paired with an older, grease-filled die, maybe?

DHeath

New obverse die and an abraded reverse die perhaps.

EagleEye

1921 Buffs are struck with dies from a different hub, which has very sharp braids on the Indian. So, you may not be seeing a striking difference. This is the only year where that hub was used.

If fact, the coin is fully struck , but the reverse die is a later die state. Nice coin, BTW!