Help me with this 13-D Type 1 Buffalo

GMan

I know it's not a great example, but it might be worth submitting even if it pulls a low MS grade. I don't really want to submit if it won't even make 62 or 63. I know the luster is impaired but some remains and there are a few marks, but I don't know Buffs very well and wanted some opinions. I may be well off base thinking this might bring even a low MS grade. If I am, just tell me I'm an idiot and I will appreciate it as tuition for the never ending learning process Here we go:



Click Here For LARGE Image

joeykoins

Don't be so hard on yourself. I think it would be worth submitting. Cool coin! though, I don't think it will reach your expectations.

lcoopie

let me place my guess of AU here

keyman64

AU, although I am not a Buffalo expert.

GMan

I'm thinking AU too but I can't seem to find any rub. Sometimes I just want to send coins in to see the PCGS grade. You can learn a lot that way but it can be expensive. I guess it would be easier to go to shows and look at already slabbed coins, but there aren't a lot of shows around here and I'm a little fish that cannot afford to go to big shows out of town.

Elcontador

I can't tell what is the grade from the image. Re distinguishing and AU from an Unc., look for luster breaks on the coin in areas of wear. Is the luster on the coin uniformily impaired? I can't tell. Look at the PCGS Grading Book which came out in 1997 or 1998 (or go to the PCGS or Heritage Site re grading tips and photographic examples). At these places, you will see the first places to check for wear on the high points of a particular coin series.

I'm not an expert of Buffs, but I think one of the first places to look for wear is the Buff's hair near the reverse rim @ 9:00. The Buff's hair does not have full details, so this may be wear. I say may be, because from the obverse, LIBERTY is almost fading into the rim, which may imply this is a late die state, not wear.

If Cape could view this coin, he could provide more insight than I can. If you could take this to a medium or large show near you and have someone who is a Buff specialist look at the coin, that would also be helpful.

Personally, I wouldn't send a coin in for grading unless I was either reasonably assured of the possibility of a positive outcome, or I took a flyer on a raw coin and wanted an insurance policy re its authenticity.

ad4400

My vote would be to not submit. Not a terriby rare coin, and even if it were to 63, the price differential between AU ($45-50) to 63 ($65 or so) makes it hard to justify. Hard to tell from image if there is wear on the hump, but that is the first place to look. What worries more is it appears the rim is flattened out by the back side of the buff. Plus it looks like somethng happened to the V in FIVE.

Walkerguy21D

I wouldn't bother to submit it unless you need a coin or two to fill out min submission, or if you really need it in a holder, like for part of a registry set.
Otherwise it is a very nice album coin.

yellowjacket

I agree that too much is happening to get a MS grade. Get it graded if you want; however, it has been stated you wouldn't get much for your efforts.

Nice AU coin.
Garrow

NewEnglandRarities

Agree with everyone here. Just from the picture, I only see a higher AU coin, and with the spread that ad4400 posts, it does not seem like a winning battle to slab it. Just my two cents

cape

Nice coin but only au55-58..... Sorry !

Shamika

It's a nice raw coin. I'd leave it that way.

segoja

concur with the crowd AU and don't submit

tradedollarnut

AU

crazyhounddog

I think, from the images, it might have a shot at an MS grade. But it so hard to tell from just an image...Joe

GMan

Thanks everyone. It's not quite as dull as the pic makes it seem and I may send it in just to satisfy my curiosity even though it's probably not worth it. It's one of those coins that just bug me. Since I don't have a lot of money to spend on grading fees, I have a few coins that I go back and forth on. I've got a couple of common date Walker halves that look really nice to me, but I can't tell if they would grade MS either. I've had coins like this for years and when things slow down and nothing good is turning up, I always come back to them and wonder what they would grade.

BillJones

The coin is a nice AU and would have little chance of making a Mint State grade.

I have seen some very conservative grades on slabbed 1913 type I Buffalo nickels. I've seen peices that dealers thought had a shot at MS-66 (and they really were not wrong) come back in MS-64 holders. This piece is in a PCGS MS-63 holder.

gyocomgd

Count me in the thumbs-down camp on submitting this. Strike is below average for the issue and it looks badly dipped out. It's a nice piece, though, and thanks for showing.

jom

The first place to look for wear on the Buffalo is really on the Buff's upper hip...it usually plateaus there. I can't really see it in the picture.

However, I also notice a few marks. While they could be mint made they look more like circulation marks. It also has a somewhat poor strike at the rim behind the Buff. The coin is varies roughly from $40 to $60 from AU to MS63...so I'm pretty sure it isn't worth slabbing....IMO.

jom

lasvegasteddy

in the au crowd here...

joeykoins

Very nice example,BillJones.