So what do you think is going on with this (dateless) Buffalo nickel detector find?

I'm gradually imaging my detector finds from 1992 to the present, and making a game out of it over on the Contests Forum. Come see "LordM's Epic Treasure Hunting Game" and participate, if you're so inclined. There will be non-dug coin prizes, and everyone who scores any points in the game will get something. And you can come in at any time.

Basically, in the game, I tell the story of each of my detector/dug "keeper" coin finds, but do not initially reveal what that find was. Players have to guess, using the clues provided, and are awarded points.

This one came up most recently in the game, and was discussed therein. I realize it's a dug, dateless coin, and therefore probably not worth more than face value, but I thought it was neat and was wondering how you'd classify the errors or anomalies on it. Story of the find here.

DD-013: (no date, ca. 1913-1938) BUFFALO NICKEL (with die break? cud? errors)

Date Found: October 10, 1993
Place Found: Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC.
Approximate Depth: 2-3"
Detector: Garrett GTA-500

This coin may be dateless but is very intriguing. Note the apparent die breaks or perhaps severe laminations. Whatever the error category, there is definitely something "going on" here! There appears to be a large cud on the reverse, completely covering the "F" in the word "FIVE" below the buffalo. That area is raised to the level of the buffalo's mound, where it should have been recessed. The depression where the "I" in "FIVE" should have been could be post-mint damage. But I think the raised area where the "F" should be and the apparent crack/raised area at the top of the Indian's head on the obverse are mint-created anomalies of some sort.

 

Cud was my thought, too. It doesn't appear to have been smooshed, as it's the correct size and thickness.

 

LOL. I'll remember that one!

 

It would, but that ain't gonna happen while I'm alive! It remains in my "dug keepers" album. I don't sell my dug stuff. (Most of the time, nobody but me would want it anyway. LOL)

 

Unlike many people, I've kept (reasonably) decent records on them since 1992, though unfortunately I only did that with the "keeper" coins and not the other relics.

This is why I'm able to relate the stories and make a game out of that more than 20 years after the finds. 23 years, in the case of this particular coin- the game is only up to October of '93 so far, and we have a lot of ground to cover yet! I have a lot of stories to tell, new photos to shoot of the coins, and everybody else has a lot of guessing games to play. It's fun.

I had to make a game out of it in order to force myself to photograph and write up the last quarter-century of finds. Most of these coins were found long before I carried a camera in the field with me, let alone wrote stories about the finds or knew what this "Internet" stuff was! So they have not been shared online until now.

 

LOL

That's the worst, ain't it?