Grade it: 1936 Buffalo Nickel

Bought this at the Aurora Coin Show yesterday. Is a pain getting pics of a coin in a slab; my camera wants to keep focusing on the surface of the slab and not the coin inside. Getting enough light on the coin without it washing out the picture or creating annoying reflections is also problematic; I used indirect natural light for this. I think they came out OK.

Would love to hear grading opinions on it (and/or guess what grade it actually received; it was graded by ANACS). What looks like a scratch on near the Indian's cheek/mouth is on the slab, not the coin.

 

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It looks like a mid-grade MS coin to me, but as you know the images limit the interpretation somewhat.

On a tangent, have you tried to manually focus your camera? Your statement about the camera wanting to focus on the plastic instead of the coin makes me think you are using auto focus. In my experience, manual focus is better for coins.

 

Well, I cannot see much of the surfaces in the pics, but I can tell you that is a VERY nice strike. It also appears the coin has got some luster too. I don't see any distracting marks so I am going to go out on a limb here and call it a MS66. With those pics, it is really just a guess.

Also never use auto focus on coins, always switch to manual.

 

Unfortunately my camera doesn't seem to even have manual focus as far as I know (if it does I'm not sure how to use it; going to check the user's manual. I've had this camera since my birthday in May but to be honest haven't used it much since and only recently used it to try to take pictures of coins).

 

Pics are a little washed out from my point of view but I'll go with '64. Since it's in an ANACS holder it maybe got '65? :devil:

 

Very nice! I think (uhoh) that it's a mid-grade coin too and that the holder probably reads MS65.

 

Trying to imply ANACS consistently overgrades? People have said that before but last time I posted an ANACS graded coin the first responder had exactly the same grading opinion as ANACS did. I don't know where all this beating up on ANACS comes from because if anything they seem to agree with the opinions of people on this board more often than do PCGS and NGC. (PCGS seems to undergrade quite often, IMO. For a while they absolutely refused to give MS/PF 70 to any coin regardless of how perfect it was.)

So seriously, why is ANACS thought so poorly of? I never got why that was and I remember when they thought of about as well as PCGS and NGC.

(BTW... ANACS graded this MS 64; so if you think ANACS is a bad grader you must have a low opinion of your own grading abilities too since you gave it exactly the same grade lol...)

I just submitted a bunch of coins to ANACS. If the majority of grading opinions on their grades is lower than what ANACS gave them, I will concede they're worse at grading than all of you. So far I have one coin where the first responder graded it exactly the way they did, and on this coin, the first person actually graded it higher than ANACS did lol... (though honestly the only reason I can think of this didn't grade at least 66 was because of the luster. There were others with brighter luster but I honestly think this coin looks better with a slightly grayish tone to it to show off the ruggedness of the design).

 

Just punchin' your buttons Troodon.........:devil:

 

It isn't that nice of a strike. I'd call it a 64.


EDIT: See the grade was just posted. I think it's accurately graded.

 

As for ANAC's grading ability - I think currently they get more wrong than right. But that makes them a bargain for the right coin and I am sure I would not hesitate to buy one. This coin for example I see enough details that it might be a 65 at PCGS or NGC, but the glare keeps me from telling the hits and luster on the coin. Honestly certain coins I like I do look for in ANACs holders, easier to crack and cheaper for a decent grade coin. Personally I think ANACs has more wrong than right in the newer holders - still that does not preclude them from my list of what I will purchase. Just my opinion.

 

Eh people keep saying they get it wrong most of the time but every time I post an ANACS coin the majority of responders grade it the same as they do (so either ANACS are good graders, or people here are terrible lol..). But one should buy the coin not the holder anyway. That's not just a catchy cliche, it's actual advice one should follow.

P.S. This is in the newest holder that they make. And people still graded it the same way they did (MS 64) except for one person that graded it higher. So take that for what it's worth.

 

It is a fairly nice strike but I think to get 66 it would need brighter luster and the Indian's hair should be a little more sharply defined. I do think it's on the higher end of 64 though. Still, I'm happy with it. I don't like buffalo nickels too shiny; to me the design looks a little better against a background that's at least slightly gray. Paid $50 for this and it felt like a good deal for its grade and eye appeal. Wish I could get better pics of it.

 

Yeah, I may have graded it high, but like I said, I was going out on a limb with the photos at hand, but we will have to disagree about the strike. The braid has full details, you can see the two small notches above the braid in the hair. The split tail is clearly visible. That is a full strike Buffalo. The 64 grade does not prove otherwise. Correctly graded 64's can be full strike.

 

Yes, I agree, I was giving the luster more credit than it deserved, especially if you say it is on the gray side. It is a nice nickel and $50 seems good

 

We're gonna have to agree to disagree, that has too much flatness on the high points (Buff's front shoulder, hair above the braid) to be a hammered coin. It's a decent, above average strike, but very nice or fully struck it is not.

 

There's some luster that these pics don't capture well, but not the bright luster you'd expect from a 65 or higher. Probably why it was only given a 64, because I can't see any significant marks and it's almost fully struck (have seem some with a little better detail in the hair on the obverse, but the buffalo looks very well struck).

 

Not sure what you look at, but I see issues with a lot of the middle to later date copper. Not that I am always correct. From that and bust halves I say they are close, but not on the mark. OH - and I tend to think that what I look at PCGS is usually more correct than NGC. That is just my opinion. I look mainly at heritage and teletrade. Don't get me wrong I am not knocking ANACs and I like the bargains you can get - especially in the older holders.

 

Hey, thanks for posting I think you've got a great coin!

I'm still learning about grades so my opinions should be flat out ignored

 

Nope. We welcome all opinions in these parts........

 

Too kind green18.