GTG - 1921 Buffalo 5c

The Buffalo is considered one of the hardest coins to grade, if not the most difficult. I think that the in hand luster is what makes this an AU more than anything we see in the photos.

 

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It’s ok, I’ve had it for a long time and I’m still at the drawing board. Lol

I paid “eye appealing 58” money for it. Still seems like a good value for a slightly better date.

 

Really, I have no idea how PCGS came up with an off the wall low grade like that. I would still think it was a worn die, not circulation wear. Could it have gone AU 58? Sure. But, most of us had it at MS or AU 58. Bizarre!

 

A few years back I became a good friend of Ron Pope...during my recouping from my hip surgery.
Unfortunately Ron has passed now...but we spent many hours talking at the wee hours...of the night he couldn't sleep and I cannot do pain killers...so him and I ...an occasionaly Lord M too..would text or pm
Our messages..
Ron really help sharpen my skills on the Buffalo series... the OP coin is very nice...but if you look close and learn how to read what there not what you believe is there...our eyes see and dont see at times...and even with my low grade of 63 I didn't see an Au. Coin.
The series is difficult at times to understand what one is seeing. These carbon spots that if you look closely, and wear under all that pretty color...
The ddo other than the nose ..there's a lot of doubling that is very slight but there...the epu clash under the jaw line.
I personally love the coin... and would not think twice of purchasing it.
It definitely was a education for us all... !
Thanks for a post that gives us all another prospective of a iconic American series.

 

Areas marked show wear as well doubling, the F under the date....lips and eye ....the horn...and a dead give always the split tall...two pick up points that one who is talking buffalos know to look for... look at both...most noticed on the split tail wear.
Which truth be told I didn't hone in on until now! There's a little bit of strike issues but nothing the novice buffalo collector would zero in on. I hope that this helps others a bit to understand what they are seeing. And again we all know our eyes do play tricks...

I know Rick will back me up when I say there's doubled dies that are in your face...and there's doubled dies that make you goans say......WHAT no way!

The only way to learn is reading and researching...and of course to have had a good friend like Ron Pope rest well my friend...

 

Well said!

Here’s one in memory of Ron. It’s still my type 1 example even in a modest 64… he was really generous with his knowledge and I hang onto it as it was in his collection and an example of a fully struck type 1.

 

I can truly appreciate your specimen...as I would of loved to had a piece of his hoarde...
I never asked him ...as his friendship meant so much more.

 

Mostly what I've learned from this is that I have a lot more learning to do.

 

And the answers as well knowlege is out there...as well right here on CT as each of us have a lesson to be learned as well shared.

 

And I will pass this on also...
Ron of course loved everything Buffalo...the first image a post card form the 1901 Expo in Buffalo Ny. Was Ron's last Avatar on Collectors universe forum. Maybe you remember or recall seeing it?
I had in my collection a elongated Indian head cent from the 1909 expo.
I really loved the old smashed cent its tone was perfect!
I knew that I wanted to gift it to Ron...and I did...he was like a kid at Christmas!
He had it for a few short months before passing.

And you know how life gets strange? And sometimes things happen or occur without warning ?
Sort of leaving you in of a somewhat Twightlight zone moment?
My hand to god... I jumped on my pad one day about a month after his passing.
And it opened...and I noticed a web site that looked really cool... of course it had coins and exonuma.
And my finger hit the elongated coins section.
The very first top of the list coin was the Buffalo Expo elongated IHC just about Au.
And it was affordable! Too...
I knew Ron had sent me a message... loud and clear.
Isn't life strange ? This song seems to fit the question

 

You and me both, Jeff!

 

Short set all variety coins

 

WOW,what were they drinking,beautiful buff.

 

It's what ya learn, after ya know it all, that counts.

Coach Wooden

 

I’m not sure if they saw something none of us did, but I would be very surprised if the coin came back at the same grade if cracked and resubmitted.

 

I would expect higher grade.

 

Ok calling all buffalo hunters.....

This nice 1938 D buffalo is now on ebay...$20 bucks RPM 002 D/D west

My question buy or fly?
And why?
Class in session...


@CircCam
@-jeffB
@SensibleSal66
@Mr.Q

 

Hard to tell without seeing it in hand but looks to have wear; those areas also have a strange color in the images almost like someone touched them up. Could just be the photo.

That and the obverse spots would be enough for me to pass from images alone, but if it looked nice in hand at a show, I wouldn’t have any qualms about my wallet being $20 lighter for it.

 

Now compare it to the specimen I picked as the prize in the cherry-picking contest.

 

This one looks much nicer overall.