Two Buffalo nickels--thoughts?

Interesting on the 25S. My best guess would be grease filled die. As to the grade, likely MS63 or 62 worst case. Lots of little bag marks. Nice strike, however, and good eye appeal. The 28 is more interesting yet, and yes, they sometimes appear to be whizzed they glow so much. Mediocre reverse strike (not uncommon at all) and a better than average obv strike, and few hits. I'd say a nice 65, maybe 64. Pic makes it tough to see detail, so I may be missing something, but I can't imaging anything taking it below a 64. Expensive coin either way! Were these ebay wins?

Just one thought on the 28s. It may be useful to take a really close look along the devices just to ensure that there are no signs of polishing or whizzing. Since the coin often had high luster, a coin doc could have flown under the radar on a whiz on that one. Look for any tiny bits of build up near the letters or devices. I doubt it, but it bears looking into.

GREAT strike on the 28-S OBV and nice die clash on the 25-S!
filled die/grease strike through on the 25-S date

MS 62 on first, 64/65 on Second. Great coins!! wouldn't mind to own them at all.

The 25-S looks to be a 62 (assuming it acutally is an S mint). If the date were full, I'd give it a 64. Erosion is very common on this issue and weakness or loss of the first two digits in the date is not uncommon.

Typical 28-S Buffalos do indeed seem to come with proof like surfaces. I'd grade your coin 63/64.

Tell us what PCGS thinks when you submit them.

wait till tonight youll see a couple of real nice 25s from caitlen. i just went for a ms 65 25s in long beach and they 64-d it again ,maybe caitlen can post an image of my coin for me.

<< <i>nice die clash on the 25-S! >>


Could someone point this out to me? I can't see evidence of a die clash.

Nice looking coins.

My guess on the 1925 would be a grease filled die compounded by inherent weakness in the master hub. The first two digits on all the 1925 Buffs from all three Mints are often weak, which probably due to a problem on the master hub. The first two digits of the date were present on the master hub from the beginning in 1913 and they had begun have begun to wear by the 1920's. This master hub was re-worked in 1926. There HAS been a die clash on the 1925 as evidenced by the die damage at the very top of the neck, but the clash was polished out of this particular die. Note the difference in the curvature of the neck where it joins the jaw. These, in extreme cases are known as "Broken Neck" varieties.

On the 1928-S this seems to be a characteristic of many of the "S" Mint coins for certain dates (1913 both varieties; 1914; 1915; 1916; 1927; 1928) that sometimes will show semi-prooflike lustre. Why this is so I haven't a clue.

Dies would be polished to remove a die clash or, very rarely, to remove light rust. I see absolutely no evidence of die clashing or the subsequent die polish to remove it on the '28-S. However, the atypical lustre has to be caused by some kind of die or planchet preparation-no doubt about that.

Koynekwest has been doing his research. I was about to respond to this thread when I read his thoughts. He is right on target about 25s having a weak first two digits, possibly from the master die. Ususally you see this on branch mint issues from that year. This example has more of a problem than most. Die errosion, filled die...as has been suggested, has added to the problem.

And for 28-Ss, they are often found with proof-like fields. I have a 14-S with the same strike.

1925...62

1928-S...64

rec78,

He admitted to being in error. It's actually a 25-P.

An interesting pair of coins, each in their own right. The 25 has a fantastic reverse strike. Far above average. The obverse obviously suffers from a typically weak strike along with a grease filled date. The chatter in the central portion of the Indian's hair is typical of an incomplete strike on a typically rough planchet surface. Many 25 buffs show clash marks like yours, but few with such well-defined "chin whiskers" (with the attending disruption of the reverse motto).

The 28-S is quite typical for a well struck piece from strongly fatigued dies. The strong fatigue is shown in the extraordinary flow shown well in the tip of the long feather, the Indian's neck and lower braid, and on the reverse in the bison's hair (particularly the head), along the rim, and in the overall mushiness of the letters and other devices. It's an odd thing to see a strong strike that shows little detail, but there is no evidence of "raw planchet" surfaces on this coin. Kind of remarkable.

The 25 strikes me as an MS62 and the 28 an MS63/64. Nice and interesting coins.

Hoot