Just picked this up today from the LCS. A family friend asked me to sell a Krugerrand for them, and after researching for a bit realized that it would be better for both parties if I just sold it to the LCS and took a much lower than normal commission to help them out. He was concerned that I wouldn't be happy with the amount I took... ...but I used those funds to buy this gorgeous 1919 Buffalo Nickel. So I'm good...yeah. Very good. My question to you guys: based on the photos, do you think this is AU or BU? Feel free to share your opinions on why you feel the way you do. There's no wrong answer...well, AG is wrong, as well as PF70DCAM. So there are some wrong answers, but you shouldn't feel pressure to give the correct answer. In hand, I don't really see any evidence of circulation wear. But I'll hang up and let you all share your thoughts.
I don't see any discoloration or trace of wear on the high points, and the fields appear undisturbed. The strike is average to slightly above average. The luster looks good, and the toning/eye appeal appears quite attractive. There seem to be quite a few scattered marks around the coin. I'm going to tentatively call it 63, based on how I'm interpreting the photos. Is this raw, or is it graded?
I'm going to go with MS64. The eye appeal is really impressive. The slightest bit of rub on the cheek and the hair above the braid knot shows a soft strike or a rub. Great freakin' coin.
Maybe this could get the newly coveted AU 58+ grade (which seems to be more popular among some collectors than Ms 60-63). I would say it is high end AU/ lower Unc (up to 63); either way it is a beautiful coin worth a premium regardless of the grade!
Looks to be some light wear on the high points of the cheek, bison's hip and flank. That and the contact marks have me thinking AU. But without seeing it in hand hard to determine where in the AU range as that toning could be masking luster breaks and minimizing more contact marks or rub.
It looks that way to me, too, but then there's detail in there that's razor sharp, and that would be uncharacteristic of circulation. One thing, it's a killer coin, no doubt about that.
What's interesting to me is that the slight change in color that some are seeing as wear/rub is also present in other spots - leading me to believe it is toning.
If it were a Jefferson nickel, probably. For this, though...we will see how the fine coin bidders of eBay enjoy it. Happy to pass it on to someone else who will enjoy it more than I would. (I am not self-promoting, just answering the question.)
The only way to tell is to look at the luster. If the luster is unimpaired, it is mint state. I interpret the issues as a result of toning/striking, and think it is mint state personally.
Here is a second image with the lighting in a different position. Does it change your initial opinion of the coin?
No. Still looks like an attractive 63 to me. The new pictures are better, and show the luster more - but they just solidify my 63 opinion.
I think the new images also better show the "wash" of blue-gray toning (especially on the reverse, on the upper right of the buffalo's hindquarters) that might have looked like wear in the first photo. Just another example of how much an effect lighting (in this case, lighting position) has on imaging a coin.
Well to me the obverse says MS and the reverse makes me think AU. Honestly I think a tpg would put it in the MS62-63 range. Nice coin no matter what.
