Who here has interest in 2 Feather Buffalo Nickels?

InternetJunky

What got you interested? Do you currently have any? How did you acquire it? Did you acquire it then realize it was a 2 feather variety or were you on the hunt for them?

Better yet, who is known to have the largest 2 feather buffalo collection?

I bought this one off a forum member a couple of years ago and it is currently my best example:

icsoccer

Very nice example.
Biggest collection...not sure...I have @ 40 and a friend (the one who hooked me!) has at least 100.
Most are good/vg ... but there are a few really nice ones as well.
Enjoy the hunt!

Perhaps Ron Pope may have a large collection... I hope he chimes in.

InternetJunky

<< <i>Very nice example.
Biggest collection...not sure...I have @ 40 and a friend (the one who hooked me!) has at least 100.
Most are good/vg ... but there are a few really nice ones as well.
Enjoy the hunt!

Perhaps Ron Pope may have a large collection... I hope he chimes in. >>



Wow thats quite a bit..much more than I have. Finding them above that grade is quite tough that's for sure.

I've spoken to Ron many times through PMs...even bought his book from him "Buffalo Nickels: The Abraded Die Varieties" very interesting stuff. Although we've chatted I don't think the topic of his personal collection has ever come up so I'm curious myself.

jfoot13

RichieUrich has a good number listed on his website... good guy to deal with also

koynekwest

I used to have quite a few (30-35 years ago) but not many now. Those interested may want to have a look at my book on the 2 feather coins as well as other abraded die varieties, such as the missing initial and 3 1/2 legged abraded die varieties among others.

koynekwest

By the way-that's a very nice high grade '17 2F you have there. And, to answer your question about the largest collection of 2F varieties, there's a friend of mine down in Atlanta that has every known date.

InternetJunky

<< <i>By the way-that's a very nice high grade '17 2F you have there. And, to answer your question about the largest collection of 2F varieties, there's a friend of mine down in Atlanta that has every known date. >>



Thanks. And Wow! Didn't even think that would be a possibility for a complete date set..maybe with most of the dates but I never would have expected one existing for the 38-D.

What about the missing designers initials? Do you have/had any of these? Does your friend have a complete set of these too?

OnWithTheHunt

Count me in here. I started collecting them about 15 years ago, about the same time I got interested in most of the other Buffalo die varieties, including No Designer Initials, RPMs OPMs, doubled dies and 3-1/2 leggers. Have a bunch, including a couple of UNCS and full horns, most acquired by cherrypicking eBay, shops and shows.

RichieURich

I am into 2-feather Buffalo nickels also, as well as No F, 3 1/2 leg, etc. I also have a personal collection.

To provide a bit more info on Ron Pope's friend, I wrote about him in my August 2010 Newsletter:
"We discussed the collection of Bill [Fivaz]'s friend who is also one of my customers. This collector focuses strictly on Buffalo nickels, and has an Uncirculated set, to which he has added the major varieties - - the 1916 Doubled Die Obverse (in AU), the 1918/7-D, and the 1937-D 3-leg. But he didn't stop there, adding most of the other varieties (in whatever grades he could find) including repunched mintmarks, doubled die obverses and reverses, 3 1/2 leg dates (6 different dates), 2-feather varieties (over 30), no F (designer's initial on obverse) and various combinations of the above. He has achieved near-completion of a set that perhaps no one else has ever done. Both Bill and I have seen his set and, despite having seen a lot of sets and a lot of U. S. coins, we were amazed by it. The point is, collect what you like, have a plan, and not every collection has to include as many finest known coins as possible.

There are not many collectors of 2-feather Buffalo nickels, but the few people that do collect them, have a passion for them similar to the passion many collectors on this Forum have about their chosen series. The 2 feathers are becoming more popular now that PCGS is certifying the ones in the Cherrypickers Guide.

Shamika

I've got a 13-D T1 in MS66 and a 29-S in MS64. I don't specifically target them, but I do keep an eye open for when they're unattributed.

DIMEMAN

I didn't even know there was such a thing until a few months ago. Sounds really neat.

I didn't know there were so many varieties the the Buffalo series or for that matter the Shield Nickel series.

It's all I can do to all the dime varieties or I would get into this.

PennyCollector

I bought a 1925-S in PCGS AG3 FS-401 2 feather just for the fun of it are they worth anything? they seem to have low pops.

coolkarma

I also actively search for Two Feathers. I have "made" at least one of each of the 2F's listed in the CPG and attributed by PCGS. I have perhaps another 6 or 8 different 2Fs not in CPG. PCGS has a Buffalo Nickels Two Feathers Variety Set. Searching for Two Feathers is nice because you can usually seem them with the naked eye, and on images posted on the Web.


InternetJunky:

<< <i> Thanks. And Wow! Didn't even think that would be a possibility for a complete date set..maybe with most of the dates but I never would have expected one existing for the 38-D. >>



To clarify, the collector Rich mentioned has an example of each of the known Two Feathers, 29 different ones according to my version of Ron's book (a couple of years old). Some date/mint mark combinations are not known to have 2F varieties. But that shouldn't stop you from looking

Enjoy! Richard

koynekwest

Normally I wouldn't be up this late posting here but I just watched the SUCCESSFUL landing of Curiosity on Mars! Maybe a little off topic but still fantastic!!
Rich and I are talking about the same gentleman-not a whole lot in the way of condition census but you won't find a more complete collection of 2 feather, 3 1/2 legged, doubled dies (even the minor ones) missing initial and RPM coins than what you'll find in his set! As to the 2 feather dates that are known (unfortunately, not for every date) , I've broken them down into two categories-what I call the True 2 feather dates (17 total)with a complete effacement of the feather, for those who may be interested, as follows: 1915, 1915-D, 1916, 1916-S, 1917, 1917-S 1918, 1918-S, 1919, 1919-D, 1920-S, 1921, 1921-S, 1923, 1925-S 1929-S, and 1930-S; and those that have a tiny to small portion of the feather remaining (11 total) but are usually collected along with the true 2 feather coins-1913-D-1, 1917-D, 1919-S, 1920, 1920-D, a second die for the 1923, 1925-D, 1926-D, 1927-D, 1927-S, and 1928-S. Values for nearly all are low in lower grade ranges-AG to Fine, which precludes the cost of slabbing, but the higher grades can bring very impressive prices-for instance-an XF 1915 that brought over $300 and a 1921-S in Fine that brought $650 in the just concluded Heritage auction.

koynekwest

I should have said Rich, Richard, and I since we're all talking about the same guy but coolkarma posted while I was composing my message.

InternetJunky

<< <i>I also actively search for Two Feathers. I have "made" at least one of each of the 2F's listed in the CPG and attributed by PCGS. I have perhaps another 6 or 8 different 2Fs not in CPG. PCGS has a Buffalo Nickels Two Feathers Variety Set. Searching for Two Feathers is nice because you can usually seem them with the naked eye, and on images posted on the Web.


InternetJunky:

<< <i> Thanks. And Wow! Didn't even think that would be a possibility for a complete date set..maybe with most of the dates but I never would have expected one existing for the 38-D. >>



To clarify, the collector Rich mentioned has an example of each of the known Two Feathers, 29 different ones according to my version of Ron's book (a couple of years old). Some date/mint mark combinations are not known to have 2F varieties. But that shouldn't stop you from looking

Enjoy! Richard >>



Ahhh gotcha. Yeah they are easy to spot, but that can also be a problem because then everyone else can see them easily . So it is my understanding that PCGS will attribute anything in the Cherrypickers Guide. I don't have a recent copy so let me ask does PCGS attribute the 2 1/2 feather Varieties? I see these more often than not but personally don't have too much of an interest in the 2 1/2 feathers.

Ron, I missed the excitement last night but had just checked out some of the posted videos and images for the Curiosity landing. Can't wait to see what else they come up with!

joeykoins

I 2 feathers. Their cool and under-rated! I have an 26s (acid treated) oops! I meant 25s,my mistake.

InternetJunky

<< <i>I 2 feathers. Their cool and under-rated! I have an 26s (acid treated) >>



Did you acid treat it yourself or did you acquire it that way?

joeykoins

I treated it.Thinking maybe it was a more significant year,maybe even a 1913s Tp.2 if there ever is such a 2 feather in Tp.2?

seanq

<< <i>As to the 2 feather dates that are known (unfortunately, not for every date) , I've broken them down into two categories-what I call the True 2 feather dates (17 total)with a complete effacement of the feather, for those who may be interested, as follows: 1915, 1915-D, 1916, 1916-S, 1917, 1917-S 1918, 1918-S, 1919, 1919-D, 1920-S, 1921, 1921-S, 1923, 1925-S 1929-S, and 1930-S; and those that have a tiny to small portion of the feather remaining (11 total) but are usually collected along with the true 2 feather coins-1913-D-1, 1917-D, 1919-S, 1920, 1920-D, a second die for the 1923, 1925-D, 1926-D, 1927-D, 1927-S, and 1928-S. >>




Did you mean to leave the rare 1913-S type 1 off of the first list?




I used to cherrypick these at shows all the time, it actually wasn't too hard as they are easy to spot and nobody else was really looking for them. Once these were listed in the CPG, interest skyrocketed and I sold almost everything on eBay I had for outlandish prices. They are now popular enough that I find it very hard to cherrypick them.


Sean Reynolds

koynekwest

Rich-

The '13-S is a 2 feather+missing initial-listed separately under it's own designation (2FNF) in my book.

Treashunt

<< <i>

<< <i>By the way-that's a very nice high grade '17 2F you have there. And, to answer your question about the largest collection of 2F varieties, there's a friend of mine down in Atlanta that has every known date. >>



Thanks. And Wow! Didn't even think that would be a possibility for a complete date set..maybe with most of the dates but I never would have expected one existing for the 38-D.

What about the missing designers initials? Do you have/had any of these? Does your friend have a complete set of these too? >>



he said: every known date.

I don't think every date had one.

InternetJunky

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>By the way-that's a very nice high grade '17 2F you have there. And, to answer your question about the largest collection of 2F varieties, there's a friend of mine down in Atlanta that has every known date. >>



Thanks. And Wow! Didn't even think that would be a possibility for a complete date set..maybe with most of the dates but I never would have expected one existing for the 38-D.

What about the missing designers initials? Do you have/had any of these? Does your friend have a complete set of these too? >>



he said: every known date.

I don't think every date had one. >>



I know. This was clarified by both coolkarma and Ron earlier in the thread.

bigtonydallas

I just cherried this coin this weekend at a coin shop.

1915d obverse

1915d reverse

koynekwest

The 15-D is a very tough one! Nice find!

nwcoast

Had not paid any attention really though I knew they existed.
This thread prompted me into looking over my Dansco album set and I do indeed have one in there! The 1921-s...
So YES... I have at least one and now I'm going to dig through a bunch of my other Buffs in search of others...
Got my interest now!! Thanks

Edit to add:
Just found a 25-s in my extras outside the Dansco set... Some fun here...
Still wondering if they're worth a dash more?

bigtonydallas

What condition is the 21-S? The 25-S? Post pics if the grades are nice!

nwcoast

<< <i>What condition is the 21-S? The 25-S? Post pics if the grades are nice! >>



They're only 10-12 in grade- half horn maybe on the 21-s
Still interested in pics?
I haven't shot any but could if the interest is still there...

kookoox10

I'm curious about these 2 feathers. I've found quite a few of them cherrypicking dealer's stock, I've picked 12 of them in the last several month. Are there any added value to them in relation to a non-variety piece.

bigtonydallas

First are they truly 2 feather and not a 2 and a 1/2 feathers? Second is condition. Are these Fair to AG? G-Fine? VF-AU? Yes there is some premium but not much in the lower grades and on the more common dates.

OnWithTheHunt

<< <i>First are they truly 2 feather and not a 2 and a 1/2 feathers? Second is condition. Are these Fair to AG? G-Fine? VF-AU? Yes there is some premium but not much in the lower grades and on the more common dates. >>



I agree with the your first statement but think the second is a question of perspective. I'be been collecting these for quite a while and have sold a bunch on ebayand elsewhere, and found the premiums on higher grade common dates significantly greater than on keys and semi keysI

crazyhounddog

Knot eye said the blind man....But I have one! I have a 1927-D with a two feather but it's ugly as hell....CHD

GRANDAM

Could someone post a photo of a regular and a 2 feather Buffalo together and point out the specific difference?

I have many regular Buffalos and don't see a big difference in them?

Thanks, GrandAm

Staircoins

Here's a photo of a 1919 as shown in Ron Pope's book "Buffalo Nickels The Abraded Die Varieties"

(note the area just below and in front of the large feather, at the base of the skull)


Normal three feathers version:

GRANDAM

Thanks for the photos, I see the difference.

So is this a 3 feather coin? I see what looks to be another feather behind the lower feather but it is still different from the photos posted above?

So is the missing 3rd feather a die polish issue or a design change?

Staircoins

<< <i>Thanks for the photos, I see the difference.

So is this a 2 feather coin? I see what looks to be another feather behind the lower feather but it is still different from the photos posted above?

OK, I guess it is a 3 feather coin?

>>

This is a 3 feather coin.

Staircoins

The missing 3rd feather is caused by over-polishing of the dies, similar to the 3 1/2 legged and 3 legged varieties. This is also sometimes referred to as 'abraded dies'.

nwcoast

Here's my 21-s... pretty bad shape...
Closer inspection indicates that my 25-s is a 2 and a half feather- not a two feather...
(and a very warm thanks to Mr. Ron Pope for taking the time and making the effort to help me in my education on this series).

hchcoin

I wonder how many people went to try and find some on ebay after seeing this thread

koynekwest

There's already several enthusiasts that closely scrutinize ebay for the 2F stuff on a daily basis-they've been at it for a couple of years.

bigtonydallas

I agree that there are a few on Ebay searching. I use to be one but got tired of searching. I now look at coin shops and coin shows. Less competition but a lot of dealers don't want you searching their stock!!! I understand the logic behind someone searching and not buying anything! I always try to buy something even if it is a few bucks. At least it is the price of admission to view their stock.

crypto79

what a fun subset, very cool

IHateDieState

Is there an updated post on 2 feathers, 2fnf, 3 1/2s, abraded dies? I'm willing to bet money on myself having tha largest set by far, of complete die varieties and abraded dies. I've been underground for almost 20 years, but popped my head up to breath. Any takers?