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Taking a gamble (low risk) on bad photos - Buffalo Nickel

Bigbuck1975Bigbuck1975 Posts: 1,278 ✭✭✭✭✭

I can’t resist low priced stuff that looks like it has potential. How do you think it’ll turn out? I understand that the photos suck in advance, lol.


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    rickoricko Posts: 98,721 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Depends on what you think you see....If you think it has high grade potential, well, it does look nice in those pictures...of course, we all know how tricky coin pictures can be. Best of luck, let us know how it turns out...Cheers, RickO

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    ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 7,237 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think you'll do fine. I do the same thing from time to time, in fact the 1916 '2 1/2 feather' that I posted recently is one of those types of purchases. :)

    Collector, occasional seller

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    291fifth291fifth Posts: 25,257 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's an unslabbed, very common date with lousy photos. Pass.

    All glory is fleeting.
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    DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 18, 2018 8:36AM

    @291fifth said:
    It's an unslabbed, very common date with lousy photos. Pass.

    +1 ……… unless it is a variety that I don't see and/or know.

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    HallcoHallco Posts: 3,732 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 18, 2018 8:58AM

    Since you used the word "potential", I'm guessing you are hoping that it will grade high and you can sell it for a profit? Is that fair to say? If so, I think after your costs...it would have to grade 66 or better. From the pictures, it looks like a bit of a weak strike, but if the fields are free of hits, it might have a chance. Good luck and please let us know when you receive.

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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 36,020 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It depends upon what you call "cheap." I paid $50 for this 1838-D Buffalo in an NGC MS-66 fatty holder. The coin looks better in person. It's got about as much sharp detail as a Proof.


    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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    SmudgeSmudge Posts: 10,021 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Agree, it all depends on the price. Hope it works out for you.

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    ad4400ad4400 Posts: 2,314 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 18, 2018 5:05PM

    I suspect the coin itself will be fine. I also suspect there is little upside on the gamble. This particular date is cheap enough to leave little room after grading if intended as a flip, and the coin could be readily attained at about grading plus purchase price if intended for a graded set. You'd need to pull a 67 to approach a "you suck", and I don't see that in the image,

    That said, I can appreciate the temptation. I'm currently flirting with the idea of doing a 'cheap/raw' buffalo short set, which might have a slightly better than snowballs chance in hell of being attainable. I've had a handful of $20 coins become $80 coins. The one below is my favorite, won it for $5, graded 66, but eye appeal out the ying-yang out strips the momentary gain.image

    n.

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    thefinnthefinn Posts: 2,657 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If you think it's a proof, it isn't.

    thefinn
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    clarkbar04clarkbar04 Posts: 5,045 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I’ll bet that’s nice and has some color on it.

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
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    koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That's a damn good deal for $5!

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