Please Grade my Grade - Buffalo Nickels - Rev. Proof Dies & More

These are the buffalo nickels that I (tried) to grade. As mentioned in my recent Wheat cent thread of the same theme, small coins poses a new grading challenge to me since I've been so focused on much larger silver coins.

Anyway, I've included below what I think are the grades that would be given to the coins by either PCGS or NGC. However, I'm probably off by a noticeable margin. :/

And, I noticed that some of the buffalo nickels in fact are made from reverse proof dies! Specifically, both of the 1916 buffalo nickels have the distinct diagonal line on the left rim. But, unfortunately, the clear die deterioration excludes it from being a proof strike candidate, among other missing qualities.

What do you think the grades are for these buffalo nickels? If you click on "Spoiler", the grade I think they would get will be revealed.

Thanks in advance!


1. 1913 Type 2

Spoiler

MS-62 or MS-63

----------------------------------------

2. 1916 #1

Spoiler

MS-64 or UNC Details Obverse Scratched right of feather

Reverse proof die! But business strike due to die deterioration...






----------------------------------------

3. 1916 #2

Spoiler

MS-65

Reverse proof die! But business strike due to die deterioration...






----------------------------------------

4. 1936

Spoiler

MS-63

----------------------------------------

5. 1937

Spoiler

MS-66

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I am in, just not after happy hour.
Nice Buff's though.

 

Not up for grading, but did want to say Beautiful Buffalo's!

 

well, nice, but I disagree with all of your grades

 

I agree with Treashunt.
And proof coins CAN grade lower than 60.
Plus I don't think Buffs came in reverse proofs.

 

Agree. I feel if I took them in to grade they would almost all come back vf/xf.

 

I bet it's my photography skills lol.

I used very intense indirect lighting, by diffusing direct light with a very intense light source (sounds counterproductive lol).

The last one for sure is MS-66, though...

 

Oh I was referring to this proof diagnostic on the reverse below.

I guess I should have reworded that lol.

 

Here's a photo of a Morgan silver dollar that I took using the exact same setup.

The photo makes it look worse than what it is IMHO. The coin may look to some as AU or MS-60/61 at best based on just the photo alone, especially due to its dull, lack luster appearance; but I can assure you that it's at least the grade shown in the spoiler.

I think that my camera has a conservative coin grading filter!

Spoiler

MS-64

 

I'm also in the camp that your grades are all off, imo you have all of them over graded. What are you using as a grading guide?

 

General ANA grading guidelines, a lot of which is influenced by Morgan and Peace dollar grading. Additionally, PCGS Photograde for these "small" coins.

 

The coins in question all of them with the exception of the bottom coin the 1937 are not even mint state. These will come back as either genuine or AU or below. Look at other coins to get a better idea what you are seeing on these coins. There is wear and the surfaces on a few are not original. You would not be the first though to send coins like these in for certification and maybe you should do so we all learn in our own ways. The coin attached is my own image and coin it is a good example of a Buffalo with no wear. Regardless of grades Buffalo's rock

 

Yeah, Buffalo nickels seem a bit underrated, at least at mint state.

I'll probably submit #1 and #3, and see what they come back as.

 

Here's buffalo nickel #3 with better photography:

 

Your posting too many coins for me to eventry to guess at the grade. Please slow down a bit.

 

I don't agree with any of the grades.

 

lol It's probably a mix of both my terribad pics and re-learning to grade "smaller" coins. Bit I'll have to use natural daylight for my photos next time - my pics come out much sharper with natural light.

Here's coin #1 again but taken with different photography:

Yeah, I try to post it all at once before I forget lol. The other pics on this thread though are of the same coins.

 

business strike buffs with this distinctive reverse die line can be found for 1913 type 2, 1914, 1915, and 1916 (as shown here) also 1917, 1915s, and 1916d. There are
probably more. When they were done making proofs some of the dies were then pressed into service to a make business strikes.

 

Ok, the grades are in.

#2 and #4 were not sent to PCGS for grading.

Here are the grades:

#1:

Spoiler

AU-58

#3:

Spoiler

MS-63

#5:

Spoiler

MS-66