1913 Buffalo Nickel Opinions Please

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Gothat3rs
Gothat3rs Posts: 343 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

These are my first 2 Coins I picked up in my journey into coin collecting. I know it's hard to tell from pictures but can I get any opinions on what you guys think grade or value might be


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  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    First Buff, AU and second maybe AU, possibly MS, need to hold coin and rotate to be sure. Hope you didn't pay MS price for them. Be sure to utilize David Lange's book.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

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  • braddick
    braddick Posts: 25,183 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Great type 1s for an album.

  • Gothat3rs
    Gothat3rs Posts: 343 ✭✭✭
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    @jesbroken said:
    First Buff, AU and second maybe AU, possibly MS, need to hold coin and rotate to be sure. Hope you didn't pay MS price for them. Be sure to utilize David Lange's book.
    Jim

    I just added the book to my next amazon order so I'll have it soon along with a grading book. I paid 50 bucks for each of them. Is that good or bad?

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  • Moldnut
    Moldnut Posts: 3,116 ✭✭✭✭
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    Enjoy them, they are certainly one of the great coins in terms of history and beauty.
    First one is AU, second could be UNC.

    Derek

    EAC 6024
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    you're getting AU maybe MS / could be UNC guesses because they are the best guesses from those photos. this is another problem buying ungraded coins from ebay thinking you'll make money (eventually)

    it can be hard to tell grade from photos. there are times when photos can hide coins with issues on them like light cleaning

    until you get more experience you'll also be making guesses but with a lot less experience. this is a path to losing money

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 29, 2025 6:42PM
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    you can also learn from this

    https://www.pcgs.com/photograde/

    you will find it can be tough to grade a high AU coin versus a MS coin

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • coinbuf
    coinbuf Posts: 12,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 29, 2025 7:08PM
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    @Gothat3rs said:
    I paid 50 bucks for each of them. Is that good or bad?

    I would grade both as AU, you could (with a bit of patience and looking) have bought PCGS AU graded examples for the same $100. If you have the knowledge it is possible to find good coins on Ebay, but Ebay is also a dumping ground for over graded coins and coins that have been messed with. Buyer beware.

    My Lincoln Registry
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  • NeophyteNumismatist
    NeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Great series to learn to grade, and much trickier than you might expect. Its easy to mix a weak strike with wear, and there are LOTS of weakly struck coins in this series. Here is a grading video from PCGS that talks about grading Buffalo Nickels and strike: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ytcLuf-hI0k.

    PCGS has a whole series on grading on YouTube that is very good. I will warn you there there is a lot on nonsense on YouTube, however, the videos from reputable sources like PCGS and ANA are good.

    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • Rollerman
    Rollerman Posts: 1,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I'd say AU58 or perhaps better.

    "Ain't None of Them play like him (Bix Beiderbecke) Yet."
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  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,189 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I am interpreting these images as both coins being AU.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • 1Bufffan
    1Bufffan Posts: 675 ✭✭✭✭
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    The 13 type 2 coin looks like it would grade a point or two higher than the type one which looks like it has slight wear on the hip and shoulder.

  • Mr_Spud
    Mr_Spud Posts: 7,272 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Yours are ok if you wanted them for an album and didn’t want it slabbed. Here’s my 1913 Type 1 PCGS slabbed AU58 that I paid $58 for, I wanted it slabbed for my Registry sets of circulated slabbed coins.

    Mr_Spud

  • hummingbird_coins
    hummingbird_coins Posts: 1,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Gothat3rs said:

    @jesbroken said:
    First Buff, AU and second maybe AU, possibly MS, need to hold coin and rotate to be sure. Hope you didn't pay MS price for them. Be sure to utilize David Lange's book.
    Jim

    I just added the book to my next amazon order so I'll have it soon along with a grading book. I paid 50 bucks for each of them. Is that good or bad?

    I have an extra buffalo book which I would have been willing to give for free :#

    Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
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  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Good pickup. I'd say you made good on the price.

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • BuffaloIronTail
    BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very high AU could be AU-58. Nice color and strike. There looks to be some rub on Iron Tail's cheek on both coins.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • ad4400
    ad4400 Posts: 2,293 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I would peg both at 58, although the type two might have a chance to eke out a 62. I find the eye appeal on the type one much nicer. That said, if I bought every type one I found eye appealing I would probably own dozens.

    Welcome to the hobby. I have enjoyed the Buffalo series since boyhood and have been working on my “big boy set” since the early 2000’s. I’m sure you’ll find many board members here Happy to guide you along your journey.

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  • lkenefic
    lkenefic Posts: 9,518 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I started a VF/XF set last summer just before taking my current job and a break from active collecting... I got about halfway through. My brother gifted me his childhood "work in progress", many of which were pulled from circulation, a few months ago... so, I'm down to just the last two coins... 1913-D T2, and a 1917-S...

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

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  • BuffaloIronTail
    BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @lkenefic said:
    I started a VF/XF set last summer just before taking my current job and a break from active collecting... I got about halfway through. My brother gifted me his childhood "work in progress", many of which were pulled from circulation, a few months ago... so, I'm down to just the last two coins... 1913-D T2, and a 1917-S...

    Sounds like a nice herd there. Finish it up, then open up the folder and gaze at all your hard work.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • MedalCollector
    MedalCollector Posts: 2,103 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Those a very nice coins for your first two! I’ve wanted to get a type 1 1913 myself for a while now.

    Buffs are notoriously difficult to grade. Minor to extreme strike weakness is more common than not on certain date/mm’s and it can be difficult to tell the difference from wear. Good luck on your collection. It’s cool to see your earnest, beginner posts.

  • Gothat3rs
    Gothat3rs Posts: 343 ✭✭✭
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    Well thanks again for everyone's opinion, I did take then to a good coin shop here in town and I was happy to here from the owner he thinks there both ms. Makes me happy with my first 2 buffs...

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  • Morgan13
    Morgan13 Posts: 2,692 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I've read a few editorials on buffalo nickels.
    The dies wear out because of the hardness of the nickel if I remember correctly.
    That's what makes it hard to tell from images.
    I think you have two nice album buffalo there.
    BTW welcome to the forum!

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  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    AU

    Investor

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