I spent a little time today looking at graded Buffalo's on Heritage's site. It was suggested I do this to help learn grading, along with Photograde & the ANA grading book. I came across this one and the grade seems way off to me... http://coins.heritageauctions.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=66041&Lot_No=24077 Anyone care to take a peak & tell me if they think the grade they have on it is accurate? I'm thinking it's more like XF or possibly even VF. I forgot to bring my books to work so maybe I'm overlooking something. Thanks ~Brian
smooth buff Unless it is a really weak srike, I would not grade it anywhere close to AU. It looks like the horn is half gone!
My sense is it is a slightly overgraded AU coin with a weak strike. Heritage's pics suck, this issue comes weakly struck, and NGC tends to be a bit optomistic in grading these coins....Mike
It's a very weak strike. Note the liberty on the obverse seems to be only half there, however the detail is good in other places. I do think it is an AU coin, but I think au-53 at best. I tend to be wrong often though..
I wouldn't rely to heavily on Heritage for grading practice, many/most of their pictures are not very well captured.
The date is not readable, If you click the image, you can zoom in. That coin does not look AU, more like VF at most.
Here's my 2 cents on this. First , if you try to use this example to learn grading a Buffalo you're making a big mistake. If this coin wasn't in a slab with a number on it I'll bet the consensus would be near a vf / xf grade. As far as being a weak strike here is my thought ( probably wrong as normal ). Once a coin gets into circulation and shows signs of wear I don't see how you can determine that it started out as a weak strike. If it had BU characteristics it would be different. Maybe the guy who graded this one now owns SGS ????
On some Buffs (Mosty S mintmarks and coins from the 20's are really weak).....you can't grade them like you normaly do.....most of the time for a high grade the Horn must be full and the date readable for a VF....on a 1926-S though the horn can be about 1/2 full.... FWIW---if that coin has good luster I can see it getting AU....NGC doesn't mess up that bad IMHO. The photo doesn't show Luster and I think that is why we don't grade it AU. If the coin doesn't have luster NGC will be paying for the messup....someone can send that back and if it is downgraded NGC pays for the lost. Speedy
Here's a link to an analysis of the date by a very knowledgeable collector across the street: http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=491390
Thanks for the replys, it's all helping me out a bunch. I was looking on Teletrade (are they're pics considered better?) and saw this one. This seems more like an appropriate grade for the Heritage one, but like I said I'm still learning this & figuring things out... http://www.teletrade.com/coins/lot.asp?auction=2184&lot=1082&imagetype=j ...or more apples to apples another 19D http://www.teletrade.com/coins/lot.asp?auction=2181&lot=1085&imagetype=j ~Brian
The coin here is another date and mintmark....each date and mintmark is graded unlike the one before that.... The date here 1921-S is a really hard one to find....I would lik to find a nice VG or F one.....but $$$$ Speedy
I went to ebay and searched for 1919-S and this one looks tons better than the one in the NGC holder....I know its higher grade and higher price....and I also know that it isn't in a good slab but I for one could overlook that.... Then there is this one....this one is great!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/1919-S-MINT-Buf...401635364QQcategoryZ11954QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem But as I said before.... Speedy
I thought about it being a 21S instead of an 19D so I edited my post & added a link to a 19D too. I know what you mean about $$$$. I'm starting to reconsider my requirement that all of mine be AU or better. I could probably swing it over time, but don't know if I really have the desire to spend $2,000+ for a 26S or $1,000+ for a 24S, etc, etc. ~Brian
I see I also messed up....I posted links to a 1919-S not a 1919-D....there is LOT of changes in how to grade the 2 coins.... The 1919-D that you posted was very nice....the problem with that coin is that it has been circulated...if that was UNC it would have a very high grade because all of the detail is nice. If I were you I would keep on learning to grade and watch for upgraders....now don't do this untill you are ok with grading and have some time under your belt....sometimes you can find a coin marked F when it is really a VF....but to know what is F and what is VF is hard...and sometimes it can be one mark or just how the grader is feeling that day that can make a coins grade go up or down. Keep an eye out and you will find some nice coins....if you have a question....post a link or ask it BEFORE you buy it.....that will help out many times.... Remember....no one can tell you what to collect....f you like the coin then that is all that matters. Speedy PS--There is a NICE 1919-D nickel on ebay....MS65 I think....the strike is great but I bet the last bid will be really $$$ Speedy
It looks like the old Buffalo Nickel series has really taken a bite out of you Speedy. You can't go wrong with this series and it will prove to be challange to complete. I have no doubt that you will finish your set.:thumb:
It has....the set has been an enjoyment to start and buy coins for....I'm trying to go at it slow and buy coins that really are the ones I want. I'll try to keep ya'll updated as this set goes on... Speedy
