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Help grading a Buffalo nickel
TequilaDave
Posts: 271 ✭✭✭
I've a slug of coins going to PCGS early next week and I've been scrounging around looking for anything else that might be worthwhile submitting and I found this 27-S Buffalo. I really don't know my Buffalo nickels well enough to say if there's a reasonable chance this guy could pull an EF or not, which would be my cut off on submitting. My gut thinks VF but scrolling thru Ebay and other sites looking at graded 27-S's and they seem to not look all that different from this pup, which has got me wondering...
1
Comments
Yes, VF-something, perhaps a 30.
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I agree with VF30 or 35. Also, what is going on behind the Indian's neck? Is that toning or some metal being pushed around?
It would likely not straight grade due to laminations.
Weak strike AU50.
Vf30
Fine money.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
I agree with the 30-35 assessment... If you do send it in, please let us know what it grades... Cheers, RickO
If those aren't laminations, send it in. It's a cheap lesson for all of us, using your money. lol.
These are such a mixed bag, I'd really like to know what PCGS thinks.
To be honest, I am still contemplating submitting it, especially given some of the "XF's" I've seen floating around in PCGS slabs. That said, I'm not altogether convinced the lamination issue (and yeah, I'm pretty certain it is lamination) would prevent it from being graded. While I know NGC often details such issues, I thought PCGS didn't. A quick Ebay search using the words PCGS and lamination show plenty of graded lamination error coins. Some attributed, some not. Has things changed at PCGS or ?
It depends on the severity and location of the lamination, and what kind of mood the graders are in.
I think your coin straight grades.
yes you should get a vf 20 or 25 or 30, hard to tell which one. I would go with vf20.
a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
Telemarketer AU53.
Borderline between VF and EF. My guess would be VF-30 or 35. But you never know...
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
I'll opt for better than VF. Seriously, check out some of the 27-S pieces that have run through Heritage. Unlike many issues, it doesn't take the tip of that horn to go XF. So, I'll be an outlier and Mr. Sunshine, and vote for XF.40
There is an XF coin in the Heritage weekly auction with detail that is no better than this one. I think the TPGs have gotten pretty generous with grades the past few years on this series in the VF-XF range. So yeah, you might get a 40 out of it, and I have no idea if the lamination will cause a details grade or not.
I'd also point out that the obverse shows minimal wear for a VF piece. Details are pretty sharp. If I were offered this piece for low VF money, I might pounce and resell for $90. That is how you get to try the new Grand Mac w fries and a Coke for cheap!
Stop.
Judging from the wear on the Buffalo's hip, it's an AU coin. The horn will be a little weak because the head was softly struck due to poor metal displacement. (Look at the top feather on the Indian, it's weak).
The inside feather is partially missing from abrading, but the entire coin comes out looking real good for a San Francisco strike in 1927.
The date is also a little shallow, which is unusual.
I like it. Believe it or not, 1927-D was struck worse as a whole
Pete (My humble opinion)
If a coin like that ever ends up in a major TPG holder with an AU grade ...
An AU58 for comparison.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/buffalo-nickels/1927-s-5c-au58-pcgs-pcgs-population-124-539-ngc-census-83-340-mintage-3-430-000/a/131716-25058.s?ic3=ViewItem-Auction-Open-ThisAuction-120115