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The tail of two buffalo nickels....Grades revealed....

crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited February 17, 2017 2:09PM in U.S. Coin Forum

Here are a couple of buffalo nickels from my primary collection. One is graded by PCGS and the other is graded and housed in an old ANA slab. Going by what you know about grading, technical, along with the eye appeal the two Buffs display, which do you believe achieved the highest grade and why? Maybe they're graded the same?
Lets have some fun.
The tail of two Buffs....

See below...

The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

Comments

  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 26, 2017 11:59AM






    I believe the ANA Buff is the superior coin in every way, except luster, The luster is booming on both, equally. Same light set up, same shutter and aperture setting, I didn't need to change a thing. Like a few here on this forum have mentioned the streaks don't bother them nor do they bother me and should not effect the technical grade. If you look closely at the ANA obverse you'll notice a tiny die crack running from the rim through the center, actually a few. This will not effect the technical grade either.
    Yes the PCGS Buff has a spot and I always kinda avoid these but on some beautiful pieces like this one I can look past it. I believe this coin is graded correctly and is something to behold in hand. It's a standout, spot or no spot, I love this piece.
    Thanks to all for playing along. This is a GREAT hobby and has brought much pleasure to me over my lifetime. Enjoy
    Happy hunting, Joe

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I like them both the same. I can't grade Buff's but will guess 65 on both.

    As usual great coins Joe!

  • clarkbar04clarkbar04 Posts: 4,936 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Based on what I've seen with buffs in ANA and even some ANACS holders, I'll bet that one has some stupid grade o 63 or 64, even though it is nicer than the pcgs one.

    And i know those spots drive you nuts!!!

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,081 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Terrific coins... I am not sure which I like more but I would hope that one graded 66

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • labloverlablover Posts: 3,632 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You have one to many 1926 Buffs. Send one to me!!!!

    First Buff is MS65+ and the second is MS66 (shot +) I think the second one has a better strike. Heck, what do I know about these...

    "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 16, 2017 6:12PM

    @clarkbar04 said:
    Based on what I've seen with buffs in ANA and even some ANACS holders, I'll bet that one has some stupid grade o 63 or 64, even though it is nicer than the pcgs one.

    And i know those spots drive you nuts!!!

    Spots do drive me nuts alright but sometimes I can do spots IF they don't kill the beauty or too distracting . The first one in the PCGS holder I purchased from pinnacle rarities long ago and have enjoyed it quite a bit over the years. Yep, one spot alright. Thank you for pointing that out ;)

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • OldEastsideOldEastside Posts: 4,602 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I wanna say 65 and 66

    Steve

    Promote the Hobby
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,081 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It was the best of times. It was the worst of times... A Tale of Two Holders.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • OldIndianNutKaseOldIndianNutKase Posts: 2,700 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Joe, I like the first coin as a 64 or less because of the big spot on the reverse, some flyspeck spots on the obverse and a weak strike. The second coin is at least 66, but hard to get to 67 from a pic. The second coin is the keeper. You just trying to thin the herd?

    OINK

  • ksuscottksuscott Posts: 276 ✭✭✭

    I'd say 65 on the first and 66 on the second. First one has more spots and maybe a few more contact marks. They're both very nice!

  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 16, 2017 6:59PM

    @OldIndianNutKase said:
    Joe, I like the first coin as a 64 or less because of the big spot on the reverse, some flyspeck spots on the obverse and a weak strike. The second coin is at least 66, but hard to get to 67 from a pic. The second coin is the keeper. You just trying to thin the herd?

    OINK

    I've been thinking about selling everything. I'm older and at the age to where I think about it a lot. It's very difficult to sell the things that has brought me such joy over the years not to mention buying them one at a time. Yep, I sure have been thinking about it.

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • ad4400ad4400 Posts: 2,083 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Luster on the first one looks booming, and knowing how our hosts love 'blast' I'll wager they looked past the spots and gave it a 66.

    Like some other posters I prefer the second one, but will guess 65 on the account of it being 'a different time'

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  • labloverlablover Posts: 3,632 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @crazyhounddog said:

    @OldIndianNutKase said:
    Joe, I like the first coin as a 64 or less because of the big spot on the reverse, some flyspeck spots on the obverse and a weak strike. The second coin is at least 66, but hard to get to 67 from a pic. The second coin is the keeper. You just trying to thin the herd?

    OINK

    I've been thinking about selling everything. I'm older and at the age to where I think about it a lot. It's very difficult to sell the things that has brought me such joy over the years not to mention buying them one at a time. Yep, I sure have been thinking about it.

    Now that would be a fun auction to watch, maybe even buy!!!!!

    "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers
  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @crazyhounddog said:

    @OldIndianNutKase said:
    Joe, I like the first coin as a 64 or less because of the big spot on the reverse, some flyspeck spots on the obverse and a weak strike. The second coin is at least 66, but hard to get to 67 from a pic. The second coin is the keeper. You just trying to thin the herd?

    OINK

    I've been thinking about selling everything. I'm older and at the age to where I think about it a lot. It's very difficult to sell the things that has brought me such joy over the years not to mention buying them one at a time. Yep, I sure have been thinking about it.

    Say it ain't so..Joe! :(

  • BIGAL2749BIGAL2749 Posts: 742 ✭✭✭✭

    I find I'm very poor grading from photos (marks show up too much with certain lighting and luster, you need to see the coin) but if I was taking a shab
    1st 63-64 2nd 65-66

  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 16, 2017 8:45PM

    Hi Joe,
    I like them both. I have this thing about spots so if I had to pick which I liked more it would be the 2nd. Its obverse streaks don't bother me. Still, I'll bet the 1st has nicer eye appeal, in hand.

    Thinking about selling everything? We're the same age and I'll admit to similar thinking. But let's be real. It ain't gonna happen for a long while. We love these damned things far too much and will hold out as long as possible.
    Lance.

    Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #213
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 16, 2017 9:00PM

    @lkeigwin said:
    Hi Joe,
    I like them both. I have this thing about spots so if I had to pick which I liked more it would be the 2nd. Its obverse streaks don't bother me. Still, I'll bet the 1st has nicer eye appeal, in hand.

    Thinking about selling everything? We're the same age and I'll admit to similar thinking. But let's be real. It ain't gonna happen for a long while. We love these damned things far too much and will hold out as long as possible.
    Lance.

    What you say rings true bud but I'm kinda on the edge. I don't wanna sell my stuff but at the same time I don't wanna have my family deal with it when I'm gone. It's a problem I'm kicking around in my head. My loving brother in law just passed away at the age of 61. He was the picture of heath and then passed away at his desk last Easter of a heart attack. I guess this is what's sending me down this road. Maybe I can shake it off.

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • BigMooseBigMoose Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭

    I like the PCGS coin as a 65 despite the weak strike and spots as it looks to have superior luster. The ANACS coin looks like a 66 to me with a nice strike, nice luster and nice color. The obverse streaks don't bother me at all.

    TomT-1794

    Check out some of my 1794 Large Cents on www.coingallery.org
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice Buffs... I like them at 65 and 66.... the first one has a better split tail, but not as nice an obverse.....Cheers, RickO

  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Grades are up. Thanks for playing.
    Joe

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,081 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I appreciate the humor in my prior comment after seeing the grade results... Sort of makes me wonder why CAC does not accept older ANACS holdered coins. This one is clearly from the 1988-89 timeframe

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • ShortgapbobShortgapbob Posts: 2,332 ✭✭✭
    edited February 17, 2017 4:58PM

    The ANACS Buffalo looks like a 66+, shot 67.

    "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." -- Aristotle

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  • RayboRaybo Posts: 5,312 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @crazyhounddog said:

    @OldIndianNutKase said:
    Joe, I like the first coin as a 64 or less because of the big spot on the reverse, some flyspeck spots on the obverse and a weak strike. The second coin is at least 66, but hard to get to 67 from a pic. The second coin is the keeper. You just trying to thin the herd?

    OINK

    I've been thinking about selling everything. I'm older and at the age to where I think about it a lot. It's very difficult to sell the things that has brought me such joy over the years not to mention buying them one at a time. Yep, I sure have been thinking about it.

    Joe.... JOE!

    Please don't say it's so, you are one of my heroes here on the forums.

    You are a young man as far as I'm concerned and have one heck of a nice Buffalo nickel collection...who else would appreciate it besides you?
    Just in the past few years you have become great at imaging.....I just hope you are okee dokee.

  • labloverlablover Posts: 3,632 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Which one of us won...either?

    "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 17, 2017 6:08PM

    @lablover said:
    Which one of us won...either?

    ad4400 Nailed it. Great job bud.

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Raybo said:

    @crazyhounddog said:

    @OldIndianNutKase said:
    Joe, I like the first coin as a 64 or less because of the big spot on the reverse, some flyspeck spots on the obverse and a weak strike. The second coin is at least 66, but hard to get to 67 from a pic. The second coin is the keeper. You just trying to thin the herd?

    OINK

    I've been thinking about selling everything. I'm older and at the age to where I think about it a lot. It's very difficult to sell the things that has brought me such joy over the years not to mention buying them one at a time. Yep, I sure have been thinking about it.

    Joe.... JOE!

    Please don't say it's so, you are one of my heroes here on the forums.

    You are a young man as far as I'm concerned and have one heck of a nice Buffalo nickel collection...who else would appreciate it besides you?
    Just in the past few years you have become great at imaging.....I just hope you are okee dokee.

    It's something we all should consider at my age. My hopes and dreams would be one of my family members would step up and show some passion over coins and take over the body of coins I started for the right reasons. I think my collection is nice and the pile of .999 silver in bars, loafs and coins would most definitely get their attention. My son was with me for a while but he loves comic books and that's what he collects. My daughter shows no interest what so ever. It would be labor intensive to image and list my collection individually, it goes beyond just buffalo nickels. Sooo, I've been thinking about it. While I'm thinking I still add to it. Maybe I'm nuts :# .
    Thanks to all for playing along. It been fun.
    Joe

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • roadrunnerroadrunner Posts: 28,303 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MANOFCOINS said:
    Spots and streaks bother me ZERO percent. Gorgeous coins I would have gone 66 66. I have a 1926-p ms 65 similar to coin number 2. I bet the ANACS 65 would go 66 or 66+ today.

    Yup. Looks like the gold-foil reverse ANA holders from around 1990. They graded to PCGS standards back then. So a 65 in that era, is often a 66 today. Those 2 coins were probably graded 15-25 years apart.

    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • labloverlablover Posts: 3,632 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @crazyhounddog said:

    @Raybo said:

    @crazyhounddog said:

    @OldIndianNutKase said:
    Joe, I like the first coin as a 64 or less because of the big spot on the reverse, some flyspeck spots on the obverse and a weak strike. The second coin is at least 66, but hard to get to 67 from a pic. The second coin is the keeper. You just trying to thin the herd?

    OINK

    I've been thinking about selling everything. I'm older and at the age to where I think about it a lot. It's very difficult to sell the things that has brought me such joy over the years not to mention buying them one at a time. Yep, I sure have been thinking about it.

    Joe.... JOE!

    Please don't say it's so, you are one of my heroes here on the forums.

    You are a young man as far as I'm concerned and have one heck of a nice Buffalo nickel collection...who else would appreciate it besides you?
    Just in the past few years you have become great at imaging.....I just hope you are okee dokee.

    It's something we all should consider at my age. My hopes and dreams would be one of my family members would step up and show some passion over coins and take over the body of coins I started for the right reasons. I think my collection is nice and the pile of .999 silver in bars, loafs and coins would most definitely get their attention. My son was with me for a while but he loves comic books and that's what he collects. My daughter shows no interest what so ever. It would be labor intensive to image and list my collection individually, it goes beyond just buffalo nickels. Sooo, I've been thinking about it. While I'm thinking I still add to it. Maybe I'm nuts :# .
    Thanks to all for playing along. It been fun.
    Joe

    Although I'm 64, can one be adopted at that age? I'll care for your babies. But, just enjoy the ride while you can.

    "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lablover said:

    @crazyhounddog said:

    @Raybo said:

    @crazyhounddog said:

    @OldIndianNutKase said:
    Joe, I like the first coin as a 64 or less because of the big spot on the reverse, some flyspeck spots on the obverse and a weak strike. The second coin is at least 66, but hard to get to 67 from a pic. The second coin is the keeper. You just trying to thin the herd?

    OINK

    I've been thinking about selling everything. I'm older and at the age to where I think about it a lot. It's very difficult to sell the things that has brought me such joy over the years not to mention buying them one at a time. Yep, I sure have been thinking about it.

    Joe.... JOE!

    Please don't say it's so, you are one of my heroes here on the forums.

    You are a young man as far as I'm concerned and have one heck of a nice Buffalo nickel collection...who else would appreciate it besides you?
    Just in the past few years you have become great at imaging.....I just hope you are okee dokee.

    It's something we all should consider at my age. My hopes and dreams would be one of my family members would step up and show some passion over coins and take over the body of coins I started for the right reasons. I think my collection is nice and the pile of .999 silver in bars, loafs and coins would most definitely get their attention. My son was with me for a while but he loves comic books and that's what he collects. My daughter shows no interest what so ever. It would be labor intensive to image and list my collection individually, it goes beyond just buffalo nickels. Sooo, I've been thinking about it. While I'm thinking I still add to it. Maybe I'm nuts :# .
    Thanks to all for playing along. It been fun.
    Joe

    Although I'm 64, can one be adopted at that age? I'll care for your babies. But, just enjoy the ride while you can.

    Do you live close by? LOL

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited February 17, 2017 7:25PM
    This content has been removed.
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,781 ✭✭✭✭

    I would have graded the ANACS coin 66 and the PCGS coin 65. Oh well...

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 17, 2017 9:41PM

    @afford said:
    My I ask how long you have owned the anacs holdered buff?

    I think around 20 years, maybe longer. Why do you ask?

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • UnknownUnknown
    This content has been removed.
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thank you. Nice of you to say.

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I had the grades reversed.... and seeing the slabs... I still think my grades are correct....oh well.... :D Cheers, RickO

  • gyocomgdgyocomgd Posts: 2,582 ✭✭✭
    edited February 25, 2017 8:04PM

    Joe, you raise very valid concerns about your coins. I went through this and arrived at a very satisfying solution: I sold everything, then started all over, acquiring new pieces at a much slower pace, with no particular collecting goals except grabbing pieces that really appealed to me. It kept the sum of the investment down, freed up cash to help a kid through college, and removed concerns as to what would happen if I got hit by a bus. Worked well for me.

    image
  • mannie graymannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I prefer the ANACS coin,

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @gyocomgd.... Wow... did not realize you had sold your coins.... you had many very impressive Buffalo nickels. Good to see you back though.... Cheers, RickO

  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,967 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great to hear from you Guy. I hope your well my friend. Yes the subject keeps bouncing around in my head.
    Thank you for that input as it does help.
    Stay in touch

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • mkman123mkman123 Posts: 6,849 ✭✭✭✭

    Wowzah....i really like the anacs buff

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