Grading Buffer Nicks...Learning

OneCent · December 1, 2009 12:08PM

I'm building a circulated grading set of Buffalo Nickels.

I found this one in an old box of circulated material. So, it will be the first example for my grading set (ANA Grading Standards, 6th ed.).

I've always had difficulty in grading this series, so I would like to see what the forum thinks.

My grade is F-15. Is this a fair assessment for this coin?

gyocomgd · December 1, 2009 12:20PM

Yup, F-15 sounds right on.
This will sound simplistic, but here goes: As a rule, the lower the grade, the more onus you put on the horn. This thing has roughly half a horn, so F-15 it is....

mojorizn · December 1, 2009 12:21PM

F15 is a good call. Though you'll probably see slabbed VFs that look very similar.

Mojo

gyocomgd · December 1, 2009 12:23PM

<< <i>F15 is a good call. Though you'll probably see slabbed VFs that look very similar.
Mojo >>

Agreed...if it were an 8/7 and in my possession, I might lobby hard for low VF.

LRCTom · December 2, 2009 12:10AM

On a P-mint like that, yes, F-12 or F-15. If that were a date that comes weakly struck (25-D, 26-S, etc.) it would probably slab VF.

..Tom

ricko · December 2, 2009 12:38AM

Agreed, that is a fair grade based on the photograph... Interesting task you have set for yourself... how detailed will your set be? Cheers, RickO

OneCent · December 2, 2009 12:01PM

<< <i>Agreed, that is a fair grade based on the photograph... Interesting task you have set for yourself... how detailed will your set be? Cheers, RickO >>

AG, G, VG, F, VF-20, VF-30,XF-40, XF-45, AU50, AU55, AU58...as the initial set. Maybe expand to mid-grades (G-6, F-15, VF-20, etc.) at some point.

11 coins using the ANA Grading Standards as the guide. All common coins as would like to do this on the cheap.

It is interesting that someone above noted that the 1915 that I originially posted may be considered a "VF" if the date was one notorious for a weak strike. I always thought that technical grading was about the wear on the coin and not the stirke. This is not to minimize the importance of strike, because it is extremely important and desirable. Just that the strength of strike, or lack there of, is what differentiates one XF40 coin from another.

MikeInFL · December 2, 2009 12:15PM

As a neat experiment, why doesn't the OP compare his coin to the coins in Photograde and come up with his own assessment?

As for me, that coin looks like a VF20.