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Which Buffalo nickel gets the highest grade? Grades revealed...

crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
Here I have two Buffalo nickels, both the same date and both graded by NGC, which coin gets the highest grade, or did they both get the same grade, and what are the grades of both? The only clue is they are both uncirculated....


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Here are the grades, The 66 is the top image and the 65 is the bottom of the original post. The reverse of the 66 is what bumped this piece to a 66, the luster and strike is just as nice as it gets. They are both very close and tough to call for sure.
The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

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    I'm going with same @ MS64

    Edited to add: I'd like to say the top one is lower than the bottom on technical grade, but I see NGC adding +1 for things with color it seems. Maybe it's just my eyes? image [63top+1color/64bot]
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    Type2Type2 Posts: 13,985 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image But in a NGC holder I'll go with top MS66 and the other MS65 But that is just me. image


    Hoard the keys.
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    AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 25,038 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Weeeelllll, they shouldn't be the same. My opinion, whatever that's worth,
    says that the top or first coin is superior. MS65.
    The bottom or 2nd coin is no better than MS63.
    Nice big pics!
    bob
    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
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    breakdownbreakdown Posts: 2,387 ✭✭✭✭✭
    65 and 66. Top has a few more marks on the obverse. Nice coins.image

    "Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.

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    robecrobec Posts: 7,043 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think the bottom coin is 66 with the die being LDS and the top a 65.
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    ad4400ad4400 Posts: 2,280 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>65 and 66. Top has a few more marks on the obverse. Nice coins.image >>



    What he said. Hate to see those marks on a 65 but the top piece has other things going for it.
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    cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 8,062 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Both MS-63.

    The top one has a better strike, but a lot of hits.

    The bottom one is weaker with less hits on the obverse, but a big one on the buffalo.
    You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
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    DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Boy, it must be the difference in series. With the broken luster these both have and circ marks to numerous to count I would have never guessed unc.

    If these were Mercury Dimes they probably wouldn't make AU.
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    morgandollar1878morgandollar1878 Posts: 4,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    top 65
    bottom 66
    Instagram: nomad_numismatics
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    64/64
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    icsoccericsoccer Posts: 1,339 ✭✭✭
    65 and 66. Top has a few more marks on the obverse. image
    Successful BST transactions to date: Coindeuce, Cohodk, dantheman984, STONE, LeeG, jy8s, jkal, SeaEagleCoins, Hyperion, silverman68,Meltdown,RichieURich,savoyspecial,Barndog
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    MarkInDavisMarkInDavis Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭✭
    Top 63
    Bottom 64
    image Respectfully, Mark
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    jfoot13jfoot13 Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭
    I actually like the top one better but that machine doubling on the obverse is a turn off for me.... but that's just me
    If you can't swim you better stay in the boat.......
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    botanistbotanist Posts: 524 ✭✭✭
    Without guessing the numbers assigned by NGC, I'd say the lower is at least one grade better, due to fewer little nicks and other flaws.
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    crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,230 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Boy, it must be the difference in series. With the broken luster these both have and circ marks to numerous to count I would have never guessed unc.

    If these were Mercury Dimes they probably wouldn't make AU. >>



    Just for the educational part of this post I would like to note there is no break in the luster what so ever on either one of these coins. And what you call "circulation marks" are very small "bag marks" and has nothing to do with circulation, and in this particular case I think I can count them....I sure don't want you to think I'm stepping on your toes, but this is all wrong....
    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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    MidLifeCrisisMidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My first thought...

    66 top
    65 bottom
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    DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'll be the first to admit that I don't know Buffalo nickels. But just grading coins........what do you call that dark area on the cheek and hair braid, if not luster break and wear??

    Not trying to be tacky here.........really want to know.
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    ecichlidecichlid Posts: 1,212 ✭✭✭
    Top 64
    Bottom 63
    There is no "AT" or "NT". We only have "market acceptable" or "not market acceptable.
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    GaCoinGuyGaCoinGuy Posts: 2,858 ✭✭✭✭
    64 and 63. I like the doubled-looking date on the top coin. Both are pretty coins.
    imageimage

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    tightbudgettightbudget Posts: 7,299 ✭✭✭
    I wager that both are 65
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    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Top 64, bottom 65. Details are a tad more crisp on the 65. Cheers, RickO
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    ModCrewmanModCrewman Posts: 4,054 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'll say the 2nd one gets the higher grade.
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    LRCTomLRCTom Posts: 857 ✭✭✭
    I'm in the 65 top, 66 bottom camp. We need to remind ourselves that with huge pictures, little hits look really big. And both coins appear to have great luster and better-than-average strike.

    ...Tom

    LRC Numismatics eBay listings:
    http://stores.ebay.com/lrcnumismatics

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    Type2Type2 Posts: 13,985 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Look at Liberty and the date the strike is where you get the grade if they both have the same Gold toneing. image


    Hoard the keys.
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    crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Tough call for sure....
    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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    crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,230 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I'll be the first to admit that I don't know Buffalo nickels. But just grading coins........what do you call that dark area on the cheek and hair braid, if not luster break and wear??

    Not trying to be tacky here.........really want to know. >>



    I see no break in the luster in these areas, before you would see a break in the luster in these areas, you would see a break in the luster on the hip bone and the flank on the rear of the Buffalo. The braid and the braid nought will not show wear till about EF-40, in AU-58 you might see some wear on the Indians cheek. The Indians braid and nought are a lot of the times weakly struck along with the Buffalo's head and horn. The Buffalo Nickel series is a very tough series to grade, all dates are a little different and some dates "especially in the 20s" The dies are just worn beyond their years. I hope this helps....
    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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    On the first one, I see doubling not only on the date but also the front of the Indian's face.
    Or am I imagining this?

    Thanks,
    Mark
    The Secret Of Success Law:
    Discover all unpredictable errors before they occur.
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    crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,230 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>On the first one, I see doubling not only on the date but also the front of the Indian's face.
    Or am I imagining this?

    Thanks,
    Mark >>



    Yes you have it right, pretty much all of the obverse is doubled...
    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

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