1914 Album Toned Buffalo Nickel Does It Grade?

All true. However, it turns out on Buffalo nickels the strike problem areas are NOT the same area where you first see handling/wear. The wear point usually is the hip of the Buffalo whereas much of the time the strike problem areas are the shoulder of the Buffalo and the Indian's braid/knot. Of course, certain dates have trouble everywhere but most of the time (from what I experienced) you can definitely see the first signs of rub on Mr. Buffalo's hip. The problem arises when the hip area has "slider" issues from being stored in a coin board or some such. I've seen (and owned) a couple of these that were graded MS62 because of this (luckily though not AU).

Then again, your point is well taken as in all cases you can't tell much of this in a picture. In hand evaluation is really the only way to tell.

jom

 

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Great coin, beautiful toning. Let us know what NGC thinks...

 

I could see it in a 66 holder. It has the look.

 

I will say that the coin will grade and it will get an MS-63.

Bowers says in his RedBook of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels that 1914s are often well struck, but that coins that came from overused dies have a mushy kind of luster. This coin may have been ATed to hide this fact, but I am not going to say it won't slab due to toning.

This coin looks to be the product of overused dies and as such won't IMHO merit a 65. The rear leg is almost merged with the rim.

The coin looks like it came from overused dies and so the strike is not sharp enough for anything above MS-64, and I'd say this one gets a 63.

 

Does it grade? Yes it grades AWESOME!!!

Yeah I think it is definately a weak strike, as such an MS coin. I think the color is OK too. I'm in the 65 crowd.

 

Update time.

My employee accidentally sent it to PCGS... It now resides in a PCGS MS63 holder...

 

Maybe that is why we are the guessers and they are the graders.

 

I think it was due to the central weakness... I'm just pleased that the coin is in a mint state holder.

 

I saw the weakness, but I have seen a LOT weaker get 63 (at least for Lincolns).

 

Congrats on the grade!! Do you have an image of the coin in the slab graded? Love to see it.

 

Just got the grade from PCGS today. I'll have it back in a couple days.

 

I only missed it by 3 points.

 

If I had seen this coin before hand I would have said 65, but with the luster the picture shows I would never have guessed a 63. The grade suprised me.

 

I think she is a beauty, Matt, and I think the grade is low. edited

 

64!

 

64+

 

weak strike, nice color.

But, I wouldn't be surprised to see it call AT.


They [NGC & PCGS] call anything AT that they don't own.

 

Just got it back this morning.

 

Wow! beautiful coin! Looks great in that holder!

 

Looks great in the slab. What do you think it's worth with the toning?