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An oversized digit in the date - 1916-P Buffalo Nickel.

BuffaloIronTailBuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,544 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited June 15, 2025 10:58AM in U.S. Coin Forum

The Buffalo Nickel was re-done by the Mint in 1916, mainly to strengthen LIBERTY, which came out weak on the 1913-15 coins.

But there's another thing they tried to address: the date was too shallow and was prematurely wearing to the point of disappearing altogether.

Look at the 6 in the date.

It is bigger and more prominent than the other digits. The Mint probably figured that at least some of the date would remain.

Nothing the Mint did fully solved the problem, and dates with two digits became prominent.

I surmise that the Mint didn't want to exergue the date like they did on the reverse.

That would have solved the problem.

Pete

"I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon

Comments

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,134 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Another thing learned, cool

  • pcgsregistrycollectorpcgsregistrycollector Posts: 1,254 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Cool! Thanks for sharing!

    God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️

  • stockdude_stockdude_ Posts: 503 ✭✭✭

    Yeah I did not know that either and I collect Buffs

  • yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 5,026 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BuffaloIronTail said:
    The Buffalo Nickel was re-done by the Mint in 1916, mainly to strengthen LIBERTY, which came out weak on the 1913-15 coins.

    But there's another thing they tried to address: the date was too shallow and was prematurely wearing to the point of disappearing altogether.

    Maybe somebody had the wise idea to put the date on twice to be sure it would stay visible? :)

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,674 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Pete, I never noticed that!

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • 4Redisin4Redisin Posts: 598 ✭✭✭

    @CaptHenway said:
    Pete, I never noticed that!

    Me either.

  • jfriedm56jfriedm56 Posts: 1,968 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Pete @BuffaloIronTail. Never knew. Thanks for the enlightening information. Zack

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,542 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I knew about the larger 6 in the date, I thought it was obvious, but i did not know about the strengthening of LIBERTY.

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

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  • Morgan WhiteMorgan White Posts: 8,390 ✭✭✭✭✭

    They reworked the master hub for Lincoln cents in 1916 also, which unfortunately was kept in service until 1968.

  • taropatch99taropatch99 Posts: 195 ✭✭✭

    Thank you for sharing that. That's interesting

    Formerly known as deadmunny
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