Finally Finished

Today I completed my Buffalo Nickel set with the purchase of a 1913 s Type II. The one prior to this was the 1921 s. There is a thread about denominations rising in value, but my wife asked me a specific question I didn't know the answer to. So I thought I would start a new thread and get some opinions.

First, it took me almost two years to complete the set. All the years with all mint strikes, and this will be my last big and complete set. I will say I had looked at hundreds of these two over the period, and a year or year and a half ago I could not have touched these two coins for what I got them for now. So it definitely shows me the price of coins have come down. Betwen coin prices coming down and patience some good buys are definitely possible now.

In just a few years the Buffalo Nickel will be 100 years old since its debut. I know it will be 101 in 2013, but coins usually work on the repeat year. Examples include the ASE 10th and 20th anniversaries, Lincoln Cent 100th, and the Roosevelt West Point in '96. The question my wife asked me was will the Buffalo series go up a lot in 2013? I told here I'm not sure.

I thought a lot about that today and many coins wil start to become a hundred years old soon that are already popular. Off the top I can think of the Mercury Dime, Standing Liberty Quarter, and Walking Liberty Half Dollar.

So my question is when a series does enter the 100 year old mark, does it cause them to increase in value, especially with a series that is already very popular?

Or will the secenario be a lot of initial hype with the cost going up, then back to pretty much norm? I know this is just speculation, but I am curious as to what other members think on this.

 

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Don't know if I can really answer your question all that clearly, but I would like to just say a little congrats, on this big accomplishment

 

Thanks for the congradulations. What is your gut feeling, I realize it would be pure speculation. But, I do think there are collectors that have been doing this long enough that may have some insight to the question.

 

My gut says yes, the value will increase...

Lets compare the values of a key date buffalo nickel 20 years ago, to now... The value is higher.

Gut says yes, but as you said.... Speculation

 

Everything will be more expensive in 4 years. That's a given. Alot depends on the quality of your collection. How many coins make up a complete buffalo collection? Are they all graded by PCGS or NGC? What's the quality of the coins?

A full horn collection will appreciate more than a non full horn collection.
What's the collection worth now? How much did it cost you to complile?

These are all facotrs to consider when asked if your collection will be worth more in 4 years. The simple anniversary date might be good for a bump but a quality collection today will appreciate more than a lackluster collection will.

 

What an accomplishment. Congrats. I'm working on a set of them myself.

I don't remember what prices were a couple years ago. I just see them now. 100 year anniversaries do tend to peak peoples interest. Any speculation would just be a guess.

I may focus on my set a little more at the next show in October. In your experience, which keys or semi-keys would be good ones to look for and pick up right now? All of them? I'm primarily going with VG-F or better for the majority with a few nice MS ones on the last page.

 

Major congratulations on finishing your set. Do you have it posted online somewhere, like a registry, so we can see the whole thing? The Buff set is a quite an accomplishment, something to be quite proud of.

I think that with enough marketing and hype, the more popular sets might be able to increase a bit around their centennial. SLQ's will continue to be unpopular, WLH's will continue to be popular. That's just the way it goes. I think any bump they might get will be temporary, however. Because the WLH, buff, and Mercs are already so popular, any increase in prices due to hype will only last a year or so until the hype subsides. It will give the telemarketers something more to make a big deal out of, though.

Again, major congrats on your set. That should be a thread of its own, without the other question!

 

Congrats on completing the set, that is a major accomplishment.

As far as value, I doubt we will see a drastic surge in the popularity and value of this series as we approach it's 100th anniversary. Of course, it is already a very popular and highly collected series that I expect will continue to gain value...but the fact that it will soon be 100 years old will not increase it's value at a higher rate IMHO.

 

Excellent. Way to go!

IMO there are two major factors that cause a set to jump in price:
1. It ceases to be produced (change of design).
I'm guessing the Roosevelt dime series will be the next that that happens to.
2. The issue gets commemorated. Perfect example is the Lincoln cents.

There are other factors, but I think those are the two most significant.

 

I really wasn't asking about my collection specifically, but the coin series in general that will be approaching their century mark soon such as the ones I mentioned.

 

My gut says the keys will continue to go up and the common dates will spike and then fall again. The series got some attention when the gold buffalo came out but I don't think that attention helped the series too much. Now if you want a prestine buffalo just get one made from gold.

Congrats on a wonderful accomplishment. I am only hoping I can finish my current collection during my lifetime.

 

First thanks for the comments. The question about what key coins to pick-up now is just my opinion, but I've been watching these for close to two years now. The 13s II I think has come down a little more percentage wise than the 21s. If there is such a thing as a "sleeper" in this series it is the 13d II.

To me the hard part about this series is learning the difference between wear and a weak strike. To me the obverse has more weak strikes than the reverse. What helped me I think besides just looking at volumes is the Buffalo Gold $50.00 piece. I did this because this should be the Buffalo at absolute perfection. Great way for me to get well aquainted with the hair, cheek, knot, "Liberty and rim space, split of the tail, fur, and horn.

I've said this before several times, but older slabbed ANACS in this series are where some great buys can be made. I've always thought PCGS and NGC have overgraded many of these in the XF and AU grades. I think right now on ebay there is a 13s II AU 50 PCGS graded. The reverse I agree with grade, but the obverse is really borderline to me. It may be the picture, but that is all I have to go on. I think both of these companies place too much emphasis on primarily the horn. Again, this is just my opinion.

The 13s II is the most expensive coin I ever purchased. That is okay because I was aware of that going in. Price is another interesting aspect of this series. Some years and mints can be of very high quality and still extremely affordable.

Did I make any mistakes within the series? Yes, my 1916d I hate the coin, and I will later replace it. I did it right, went to a show, held it in my hand, and all that other stuff one is required to do as a good/wise collector. I should not have bought this coin, the only good part is it was not expensive to begin with.

Where did I obtain these coins? Coin shows, "Dave, the Collector's Friend" (who speciallizes in the Buffalo), and ebay. I know ebay gets raked a lot here, but there are many reputable dealers there as well. Dave does an excellent job of grading his coins on the conservative side.

 

So it sounds like you are far from finished if you are still considering upgrades.

 

Just the 16d I will later replace. Actually I plan on going back through all my coins to see if I want to upgrade. I'm thinking my '21 Peace Dollar I would like to upgrade. There are also a coouple of common Memorial Cents I would like to replace. Actually, I only need one more coin to complete that set also.

Another thing back to the wife. Today I showed her the designs of the quarters starting in '10. She wants me to collect the silver 5 ounzers. I suppose I could force myself to do this just for her. I don't mean to get mushy here, but she totally supported my decision to purchase the coin today. It really meant alot, money is a little tight these days.

 

I here you on the tight thing, I think I have only purchased 4 coins all year. That is a considerable down turn as I usually purchase 30-50 or more.

 

Congrats, Larry. I was looking for a nice 1913-d type 2 buffalo at the show in Van nuys this weekend but came up short.

Good going!

 

Thanks, I had forgoten I alked with you once about the 13d.

 

Congrats on completing your set. I hope that you continue to enjoy it and this fantastic hobby.

 

Congratulations on achieving this milestone Larry. As to whether or not a coin series achieves a resurgence in popularity upon attaining its' 100 year mark one only has to look at the good old Lincoln cent which turned 100 this year. Look at all the hype associated with this issue but our friends at the mint did indeed help that along ever so slightly.

The Buffalo design has always been popular with collectors. Just take a look at the 2001 Commem that was issued. Sold out in just a few short weeks. The American Buffalo 24k gold coin is extremely popular with both collectors and investors and many await its' re-entry into the market place later this year but again back to your question. Will the nickel issue achieve the same popularity? Time will tell my friend but my gut tells me no. With so many large sized coins out there I don't think folks are going to opt for collecting the humble small sized one. But then again, I bought Enron.....

 

Firstly, great work on completing your Buffalo set! Congrats!

As far as the value of the series increasing as the centennial approaches, that's really a matter of speculation as mentioned earlier....I don't have much knowledge about Buffalo nickels outside of the average collector there, but comparing your series to mine -- Lincoln cents -- the keys have been going up for years, and I just don't see why they will go down in value. Even the common dates have increased, at least with inflation. In the mid-90s, I was picking up common dates in Good-Fine dated in the teens and twenties for between 10-25 cents. The price tags now are 25 cents to $1.50 for the same pieces....

Lincolns are a perennial favorite; so are Buffalo nickels. I think your collection should certainly keep pace with inflation, and I have a feeling the semi-keys and keys will see appreciable increases during the early and mid 2010s (Buffalo centennial). Could these values hold beyond then? I think yes, especially if our economy improves and the general populace can afford to buy and keep better dates.

Just my two cents....or five