Old School ANACS graded Buffalo Nickel...

I came across this old ANACS graded Buffalo nickel in a local shop recently and found it interesting enough to buy (I also happened to want a Buffalo Type I anyway). The owner said it had sat in his inventory for "a very very long time." He was probably delighted to finally unload it. It wasn't expensive (he took a bit off of the market price of the nickel) and, to me, it provided a fascinating hands on example of the history of numismatics grading. The card and the coin were only joined by a paper clip, which I kept but removed, and the coin isn't sealed inside the plastic. Only the serial number "XA7382," sans paper clip, seems to connect the card with the coin. The back of the card reads "copyright ©1986 American Numismatic Association." I can only imagine how much fun counterfeiters would have with this format today. Since the coin isn't rare I plan to keep everything as-is. This probably isn't new to many of you here, but I had never seen anything like it. I'm guessing this is what I've heard people refer to as "photo-grade."

 

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That is very cool!!! I would have bought it as well...

 

add me to that list

 

Who knew the Radio Corporation of America had/has a coin collection. I wonder if it was Victor's and they got it in the divorce

 

@Conder101 can tell you more about this early ANACS certificate. I noticed that the address is Colorado Springs. Didn't ANACS begin its early days in Washington, DC? I'm not 100% sure, but I'd like to know.

Chris

 

Yes, ANACS began in DC (close to the Smithsonian reference collection) and moved to CS.

This is one of the later photo certs from Conder's book...

ANACS 8 - has a black & white photo (1987)
ANACS 9 - has a color photo (1987 - 1989)

 

ANACS was in DC from 1971 until it was moved to CO. Located in the Munsey Building jus a few steps off Pennsylvania Ave. I have a PPC of the building. The "Old PO Building" on PA Ave was where the PO Box was and where the Registered Mail was dropped off in the evening. The ANA chose DC because it was close to the Smithsonian, the US Mint Lab, and just a day up & back by train to the ANS in NY.
IMO, they never should have moved it to CO; but the place was finally profitable and the ANA wanted better control. Charles Hoskins was the Director/authenticator. Mike Fazzari was an authenticator. John Hunter was there for a short time too.
All coins received were logged into a ledger, weighed, and photographed before being authenticated so they could be ID'd if lost or stolen and to protect ANACS from claims of switching. Remember, at the time, collectors were not accustomed to send their coins to strangers...LOL.

 

I don't recall ever seeing the coin in a stapled 2×2 before though on the old photo certs

 

Me either.

 

Me neither... they were returned in a poly bag in side a PVC flip.

The ledgers are in the ANA library - I viewed them in December. But they stop at E-K or something like that when they started using the computer. That database is now lost.

 

The breakdown of the grade is what interests me.

 

The photo negatives from back then are the real treasure. They were taken on a Rolleflex Camera with a 2X2 format. Wonder if they are in the library or if someone in CO "misplaced them?"

 

They (the negatives) are still in the museum/library (I think it's technically the museum and I mis-spoke above).

 

Wow! That is good to know.

 

They tried to refine the "Technical Grading System" that was used for internal record keeping (coin ID along w/photo and weight) at ANACS in DC.

 

Do a google search on 'ANACS Photo Cert" and a PDF article will come up. This can be saved to your computer or printed.

 

And today it lives as a the only big 3 that will throw a numerical grade on a details label. Talk about a fall from grace

 

I have only seen pictures of stuff like this - I don't recall ever seeing one at one of the little local shows or dealers. I probably would have bought it also. I know this I just saw some of the new NGC holders in the local shop - not really sure I like the labeling itself on the new ngc holders.

 

What is the big three? Grading services? I thought there were 2 big ones and 2 little ones = 4 TPGS.

 

Many people forget (deliberately) ICG (which eBay permits) and SEGS (not permitted on eBay listings)