1924-S buffalo value?

I am trying to decide whether to buy a 1924-S buffalo in an old ACG holder that says the grade is AU58. I don't put any stock in that grade, but I want to make sure there are no obvious problems with the coin so if i buy it and have it graded legitimately it wont come back as details. There is some honey colored toning around the periphery that spares the center of the coin.
Thanks in advance...

 

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I see it as a AU55, but I don’t see any flaws or defects that would lead to a details tag. Really nice buffalo!

edit to add: NGC/$1,950 NumisMaster/$1,890. (both AU55 listed values).

 

It is a nice coin but I certainly wouldn't give it an AU grade.

 

Thanks for the input, I'm trying to buy it at 1800.00, asking price is much higher.

 

Not AU? You're thinking lower grade like VF? Or do you see problems with the coin?

 

I put it at XF45, maybe AU50. I have been looking for an XF/AU '24-S for over a year now and haven't found one yet. These are very hard to find in higher circulated grades, and I am prepared to pay over "cost" when I finally find one.

 

From the pictures it looks cleaned to me, I'd call it AU Details.

 

I'm also debating whether to have the conservation done on it (aka cleaning) to see if it shines if I buy it and submit for grading. I agree it's a tough coin

 

by cleaned you mean possibly dipped? I looked it over with a loupe and didn't see any scratches from cleaning.

 

My perspective - Head, Horn, Shoulder look flat maybe low XF

 

@BuffaloHunter this is a query that is custom made for your experience.

 

I think it's telling that the coin is in an ACG slab. Why? This is a key date/MM coin that is rather expensive at any grade above fine. If it were a good coin, someone through the years certainly would have had it crossed over to one of the big TPG's.

I don't like the looks of this coin at all. I think there's something wrong with it and I would steer clear of it if it were offered to me. Do you have any clearer pictures available?

 

Not readily available. It's been in the bargain slab for years and the slab is definitely got some wear/scratches on it. Is there anything you can help me see so I can think about it more before I drop any cash on it?

 

Is this in a dealers hands at this point? If so, I would ask that it be sent in for authentication/grading by NGC / PCGS before making any move on it.

 

There are small marks all over the coin and I don't like the bright patch under the buffalo. Also the color looks off.

Another thing to consider is it's authenticity. I just recently heard about some very deceptive added mintmarks seen mostly on Buffalo Nickels. The counterfeiter would drill a hole in the edge of the coin just under where the mintmark should be, then with some special tool raise a mintmark from the surface of the coin. To spot these you should look for a plugged hole on the edge near the mintmark.

 

I agree with the above XF40-45. Too much wear for an AU. The color looks off/different to me.

 

I thought about that, but I'm afraid if it comes back as genuine and at the stated grade or higher (pardon me while I clutch my pearls) that the sale price would go up. I did ask why the dealer hadn't sent it in for grading and was told he just hasn't had time (which may be telling).
But to my untrained eye I can't see anything too bad other than the odd toning color. I told myself this color is odd because it's not a silver based coin so toning may look different.

 

A dealer who “just hasn’t had time” to send an expensive coin in for grading? Umm, okay.

Anyone who has looked at a lot of buffalo nickels will point out that this coin does not look natural.

 

Well, I was obviously off in my assessment, but our buffalo experts are seemingly trying to tell you it does have problems and maybe you should hold out for a better one.

As far as the grade, I normally consult PCGS Photograde to see how close my guess was. But since I am traveling, visiting my son on Whidbey Island, WA, i am running NORD VPN and PCGS is blocking me. While I trust my son’s Whidbey Telecom network security, I’m not willing to drop my VPN while on the road. The positives outweigh the negatives for keeping it in place. PCGS will just have to modernize to accept VPN…or not. PCGS.com is handy but my world does not revolve around it.