The Ubiquitous 1938-D Buffalo Nickel - This One is CAC Gold
UMCane
Posts: 213 ✭✭✭
I have, as many of us do, a 1938-D PCGS graded MS65. I picked this one up just a bit over retail because it was submitted to CAC and received a gold CAC sticker. It's inexpensive.
As you can see it's an OGH. I see a fair number of these (sticker) coins floating around. IMHO, it's under-graded, but by how much? Should I just let it be and enjoy the flash of gold, or have it regraded. Unless it grades to 67 or 68 it's not worth the bother.
"Just because you were born on 3rd base doesn't mean you hit a triple"
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Comments
Leave as is in the old rattler with Gold CAC sticker, a very nice combo.
Pretty typical MS66 1938-D
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can't tell from those images for such split-hair grading assessment.
a rattler/cac combo is neat.
do a consideration or something and specify at least ms67. let it piggyback on an economy if the potential value is under the cutoff.
it may be nicer in-hand but from those images, 67 or higher seems a big gamble.
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To my knowledge, you can't specify a higher grade (except for the plus only on an AU58). Leave it as is. People will pay double for the gold CAC/rattler combo.
Nice looking coin.
Makes one wonder about the economics of collecting when one sends a $40-50 dollar coin to CAC in hopes of a $40-$50 dollar score.
To be honest I don't like it as a 66 with the cheek scratch just above the mouth crease and the other one on the jaw line. CAC was very generous.
Let me give you a little tip:
Don't sell it with out trying it. I had a gorgeous 1938-D Buffalo in OGH 66 that had wonderful color. Great coin vibrant, nice, but had one tiny spec of carbon on the neck, so I kept it intact. Sold it on ebay , because I thought at best 67 upgrade. Well it 68'd and sold in stacks auction for 11k. Spot had been removed. its coming up for sale again I believe.
Many of the gold CAC's were made when Jerry varland was paying huge money for them. For a while he would shell out basically whatever the seller asked for any Gold sticker. I'm talking $500+ for coins like PR66 common date Franklins. During that short era many many coins went to CAC that would not be economically feasible today.
Very interesting! I did not know this and it probably explains why there are so many 38-D buffalos and MS65 1940-something dimes with gold stickers.
That is a really nice Buff..... I would leave it as is though.... I believe it might go 66, but the gold sticker will bring you as much value without further investment. Cheers, RickO
Several cuts on the face limit this to MS66 in my opinion. That's not to say you couldn't try it 10X and get a MS67 once. In those same 10 tries, it will grade MS65 as well.
Hard to believe that these MS65's were only worth $85 back in 1989. And the big dealers were trying to convince the public to load up on them as long term investments. A MS66 back then was over $300 but not an easy grade to get. A Buff had to be almost flawless. And MS67's back then were over $1900. Funny thing is today, a large % of those rattler MS65's are still just MS65's today. Over time, the value of the gold sticker on these will likely erode some. And even getting MS66 money might prove difficult. MS67's today are on the PCGS price guide for $180 retail....a sharp reminder of both the shift in grading standards and the huge increases in slabbed populations.
I would keep it in that old rattler with the gold bean and call it good. Regardless, it's a beautiful specimen so I wouldn't worry about what numerical grade could or would be assigned. Enjoy that beauty
Leave it as is!
66
Several varieties exists such as D/D, D/S. D/D/S and in the past would pick them up if they were nice.
Out of the 3 or 4 dozen I picked up only a few grade lower than 65 and recently went thru the box and prices ranged from $7 to $30.
The D/D/S were usually priced the highest but half the time dealers weren't aware of what they had or simply didn't attached a premium. None are really rare but the D/D/S are very dramatic and obvious.
As you have seen in previous posts, there are quite a few who would leave it as it is...and you can count me among them.
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No plan to sell or re-submit. Cheap Gold Bean coins don't come around everyday, however the 38-D seems to have it's fair share. A CAC-Gold is unique to my coin collection so I'll just keep it in my registry type set. The OGH, light toning plus the bean give it a nice "aura" ... even if its an inexpensive pick-up.
Thanks, to all.
"Just because you were born on 3rd base doesn't mean you hit a triple"
In 65 (the grade on the holder) it's around a $50 coin. In 66 it's about a $70 coin. Send it in for upgrade if you feel it's better than 65.
I know I would - hoping for 67.
Pump and dump. There are probably several "live ones" out there who would pay a big premium for a common coin in a "rattler" with a gold sticker. Take the money and run!
The hit on the cheek is kind of grade limiting in my opinion. I'm sure it's pretty but I couldn't see this in a 67 holder...not with how common these are.
Your Buffalo Nickel is probably bleached, looking at the pictures.
leave it in the rattler and with the sticker.
Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
Nice to have one gold bean in the pantry. I wish I would have held onto one of the two I was issued.
That's one of the easy gold cac shots, OH relatively cheap and common coins, no risk for them.
I'd leave it be, It's pretty nice.
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absolutely let it be as it is.this is the kind of item when one sells one always says,'i should have asked more for it."
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
This one is from my type set.
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@UltraHighRelief ...That is a very nice Buff....certainly could go 67 or 67+... Cheers, RickO
This is not collecting.......just flipping for more money.