Grade this 1924-S Buffalo Nickel

Omegaraptor · February 2, 2023 5:27PM

So I purchased this 1924-S Buffalo Nickel for $25 as I did not have this date. Obverse is probably the nicest I’ll get for $25. Reverse is struck from probably one of the most worn dies I’ve ever seen used to strike a Buffalo Nickel.

How do I go about grading this coin? How would you grade it?

Walkerguy21D · February 2, 2023 5:55PM

Wow, extreme example….I guess overall VG?

jesbroken · February 2, 2023 5:57PM

Someone smarter than I would have to set a for sure grade on it, as the obverse is VF20 and reverse is G06, at least to my way of thinking. I know that weak strikes can come into play by graders. I know that most books I have read told that this was hard to find in VF to AU and that VF required most of the horn to qualify, so I don't know what to tell you with your coins weak strike and its grade.
Hopefully, Mark will chime in later.
Jim

nwcoast · February 2, 2023 6:00PM

My guess would be somewhere in the 6-8 area.

pursuitofliberty · February 2, 2023 6:55PM

When I first saw the obverse, I thought "Oh my!"

The reverse does leave something to be desired but I'm still trying to call it a Fine just the same, as I am not seeing as much wear as first appears on the reverse

TPRC · February 2, 2023 7:03PM

I agree that it is an extreme example. But the 24-s comes with a weak horn. Still, I am a vg-8 or 10

291fifth · February 2, 2023 7:08PM

VG. The reverse really drags it down.

ricko · February 3, 2023 8:11AM

The reverse appears to be a weak strike and very worn.... Probably around a 10... Cheers, RickO

Omegaraptor · February 3, 2023 1:35PM

Thank you for your opinions everyone. It's no secret that Buffalos are hard to grade and coins like this just make it harder. Definitely a learned skill. I have heard "60% obverse, 40% reverse", but I'm not sure if that's how TPGs do it.

Either way, with this coin I now have 13-S T2, 18/7-D, 21-S, 24-S, and 26-S. Might as well stop putting off buying myself a Buffalo Dansco.

DollarAfterDollar · February 3, 2023 2:30PM

Don't mean to be a Debbie downer but pics look so grainy and the obliterated MM suggest to me it's been whizzed. Hope I'm wrong.

BUFFNIXX · February 3, 2023 6:59PM

VG08. Bit of the horn show, and the LIBERTY is merging a bit into the rim. nice and clear date, reverse struck from a somewhat worn die. If you did a split grade on it, you could call the obverse VG10 and the reverse G04 as the reverse die
is on the worn-out side. But no matter what you call it is a solid good to very good coin.

OnWithTheHunt · February 8, 2023 9:04AM

VG 8-10

Cougar1978 · February 8, 2023 11:53AM

VG / don’t use grade numbers on raw coins. Just do it like the ole days.

Fraz · February 8, 2023 11:59AM

I failed. Thanks for the schooling.

Elcontador · February 8, 2023 12:07PM

Looks like an acid dipped VG.

BuffaloIronTail · February 8, 2023 1:12PM

When I first saw the obverse I instantly thought VF.

Then I saw the reverse. Worn die. Clashed. Bummer.

But I'm not surprised. In the Buffalo world this coin would be par for the course on worn dies.

I have to give it a VG-10 for the stronger obverse. The reverse knocks it down at least one whole grade. This coin usually comes with a flat feather out of the box.

It's part of the reason why (scarce anyway) 1924-S Buffs are hard to find above F-15.

Pete

Omegaraptor · February 8, 2023 1:50PM

Would love to hear from EZV.

dsessom · February 8, 2023 1:55PM

I am fairly decent at grading many series of US coinage, but Buffalo nickels have always stumped me. I know the '24-S is a tough date. Anything over EF/XF and you are easily north of $1,000. For what you paid, I would be very happy with it though!

Omegaraptor · February 8, 2023 2:09PM

@dsessom said:
I am fairly decent at grading many series of US coinage, but Buffalo nickels have always stumped me. I know the '24-S is a tough date. Anything over EF/XF and you are easily north of $1,000. For what you paid, I would be very happy with it though!

Yeah many of these teens/twenties mintmarked Buffaloes have big price jumps from F to VF. I think a lot of that stems from the old “full horn required for VF” convention.

There are a lot of 24-S (and other date) nickels in PCGS and NGC VF holders that have partial horns because of weak reverse strikes and worn dies. These generally trade at a discount to VF “book price”, AFAIK.

BuffaloIronTail · February 8, 2023 6:00PM

On 24-S, 26S, and 21-S the horn just disappears and is weal from the press. Worse than that, 24-D has a flat top feather which affects the horn.
I have never seen a 1924-D Buff with a fully rendered top feather. It's even lacking on high-grade coins.

For some reason known only to the die and planchet Gods, 24-D does sometimes show up with a full horn, and when it does, plan to fork out over 220..00 bucks for it in XF.

Everyone seems to talk about the strike on the 1926-D Buff. Oh yeah, it's bad. But look at 1920-S and cringe. Smeary, half- visible detail "out of focus" reverses from overused dies are a bad testament to a storied Branch Mint.

I'm ranting. I'm sliding off subject.

Time to quit.

Pete

Steven59 · February 8, 2023 6:41PM

Obverse looks maybe F12 but reverse looks G04 - Net G06

crazyhounddog · February 8, 2023 6:46PM

In my opinion it looks as something has happened to the surfaces of the coin. I can't put my finger on it as it seems very grainy. To me it looks to be either acid treated, or it is environmentally damaged. My vote is no grade for these reasons.

cladking · February 8, 2023 6:51PM

My understanding was that this would grade F- or VG+ but I have no experience with a coin like this.

I don't believe there's anything wrong with the coin that wasn't wrong when it was minted except the darkness on the reverse and the spot near the leg. .

OldIndianNutKase · February 8, 2023 7:08PM

Good. Thought VG from the obverse but the reverse is only marginally Good. I do downgrade weakly struck coins. I do not believe worn dies should be forgiven in the grading process.