Grade opinions on 1917 buffalo

devious

Shoot me a grade. This is the most captivating coin I've ever owned in my possession and the first coin I've decided to be "strong hands" about which has now enticed me to the buffalo series. I pull this out for about 1/2 hour every day to just sit and stare at it. It truly looks 100x better than the photographs provided for grade advice. While it has a few technical flaws, the weak strike, and the hit obverse in the hair [horizontal line], when held in hand, it truly becomes almost animate and I'd say it's a 70 in the eye appeal department with booming luster, and perfect coloring. But that's just me.

So, again, presenting my favorite coin in my possession for forum grade evaluation...and thanks in advance for the future reading of comments/grade.

Rob85635

That is a terrific Buffalo. I will give it a go. I think that even with the flaws if the eye appeal is as you say I would guess MS66. I love guess the grades, even if I end up way off I learn something every time.

oldhobo

I'm going with 64.

devious

<< <i>That is a terrific Buffalo. I will give it a go. I think that even with the flaws if the eye appeal is as you say I would guess MS66. I love guess the grades, even if I end up way off I learn something every time. >>




Guess the grades are fun and I too love them! And while I gear up for my submission, be it known that the person closest, or spot on the grade of this buffalo when she comes back will receive a cleaned but super dark toned over 1892 colexpo half dollar in issued bezel and 'envelope' flap carrier [told the bezel and envelope were issued with it at expo, and are old enough to justify this as truth].

Tie breaker will be sorted out by name in a hat, four year old kid drawing it out. Submission goes out next week for Regular service. Just FYI! So read and prosper. :-) Coming up on my 250 post count! So let's celebrate.

robec

That is a beautiful buffalo!! I'll go with 64.

jmski52

That is indeed a captivating coin, primarily due to the booming luster and attractive toning. Is the flatness on the obverse (cheek and hair) due to the weak strike? The image needs to be a bit sharper, and I can't distinguish what might be abrasions from die wear. I see a small rim ding, a possible small mark on the hair and what appear to be minute marks on the obverse field. The reverse is pretty clean with some loss of detail due to die wear. I assume that the lines on the portrait are not abrasions, so technically I'd call it an MS-65, downgraded to MS-64 for the die wear and strike. Then, I'd bump it to an MS-64+ for eye appeal.

A nice coin! Congrats!

MarkInDavis

65. Only because of the weakness of the strike.

robec

I don't know how and if it pertains to all 1917's as a whole, but in a study that consisted of over 2000 1917-P Buffalo's, only 4% were deemed to have weak strikes. Based on those numbers and the appearance of the low spots in the fields, I would doubt this is a weak strike. That doesn't rule out worn dies however. To me it just looks like wear on the braid area on the obverse and hair on the foreleg of the buffalo. Killer eye appeal.

coolest

64

jerryf43

ms64

Free

Nice Buff. I'm gonna say, though, that PCSG puts this in a Genuine holder. I really don't have any real reason for saying so, I'm just in this for the Cal Expo half and I'm playing it like The Price is Right. My Genuine guess is the 1 dollar equivalent!

collegecoincollector

it would probably get placed into a 64 holder, but if you ever sell it you'll get more than 64 money!

devious

Great guesses folks. The reason for me thinking this is a weak strike is due to the fact that I've seen a couple other in MS holders that displayed the very same flatness in the upper braid and lower hair area. I'm sorry the images aren't super sharp. But hey, keep playing. Here's what the winner will receive [minus the envelope in the photo of course]:

crazyhounddog

I'll say weak strike or worn out dies? I would have to point out the hip bone looks kinda flat! The planchet looks just beautiful and pretty much hit free, and with the luster and color I can see why you like this coin so much, I like it also!
With out able to tilt the coin in the light I can't grade it. But I will say that this is a coin with great eye appeal! Nice coin!

ad4400

<< <i>I would have to point out the hip bone looks kinda flat! >>



That what I was thinking. Take away the color and eye appeal and you'd probably get a bunch of AU guesses.

Edited: Missed the give away part so I'll wag a market grade 62.

CopperWire

AU58.

InternetJunky

63 weak strike.

1Mike1

65

jesbroken

For a year with most examples being very sharply struck, I feel this coin will grade as an AU55 by PCGS. The flatness of the horn and hip being highly indicative of my guess(and it is just that--my guess). A most beautiful and desireable coin nonetheless.
Jim

Type2

I'll go with MS-64 Very nice Buffalo.

gyocomgd

Unusual coin. The wear to me is obvious on central obverse and buffalo's hip. At the same time it's a very clean specimen, with no nicks to speak of. The luster is a little flat; it may have been dipped at some point. I give it AU58 CAC.

sinin1

I like it but have hard time telling degree of luster


big plus for eye appeal
minus for weaker strike


MS63 in your generous give-away

devious

Keep `em coming. I have compiled a list as of today. They go out in the post on Monday again for regular service. And it looks like if it's a 64, there's going to be a big drawing with only one name drawn.

Weeeeeee! Happy Thursday.

Edit: Here's a couple photos with my camera setup. A cellular phone through a 5x loupe. I was trying to show the luster more than anything since somebody made a comment about it's flatness. There's no special lighting. Just under florescent lighting from the ceiling in a bedroom and a cheap camera phone and an even cheaper 5x loupe. It gives a better approximation as to what it looks like in hand than the previous photos used for grading. Enjoy.

Wiscane

MS66

WinPitcher

MS 65 thanks for the chance.


Steve

grip

63CAC.

duck620

very very nice looking coin
MS-67.

intocoins

MS-63

devious

Free wins.

I've spent a lot of time in varying degrees of light looking at this nickel. Last night I decided to take it out of it's flip and take one last glance before she goes out for regular service at pcgs for this giveaway. Well, that won't be necessary. I finally saw what I kept looking for. Plenty of hairlines underneath the toning. It will still go out, but via Regular service to get it in a genuine holder. Sadly disappointed in this discovery, but oh well. What is one to do?

Congratulations Free! Although it's not sitting slabbed. And I was hoping for one of those other MS =] grades. I'm not going to dilute myself with what otherwise would had been an extremely awesome coin. I'm disappointed. Oh well! It took sheesh, over 5 hours throughout my ownership to discern the hairlines. They are definitely all over the devices. The fields are completely free of these hairlines.

Ah well...

zeek

looks great, ut horrible wear- 62

Shamika

It's either a 55 or a 64.

seatedcoins

Are you absolutely positive? The color progression in the toning looks spot on. I hope he grades, I'll venture a MS60.

crazyhounddog

I saw a coin that looks a lot like this one on e-bay, is this one for sale right now?