First off, what grade is this? The reverse is in what looks to be VF/XF, while the obverse is G/VG? I really have no idea on this one. Also, there's something going on with the D, I'm just clueless as to what it may be. Finally, what is the value? Thanks.
Id grade it VG, and I dont notice anything wrong with the mint mark. My 2007 Red Book lists it at $15 in VG
Yeah, I think it's just a scratch to the left of it, but when I first looked at it, it resembled another D.
You should consider buying yourself a nice Loupe. They come i handy at times. The one I use was very cheap but works great. I think I paid $9 but its double sided, one side is 10x and the other side is 20x. Most of the time I use the 10x side, that seems to be about perfect.
I would make the coin between G6 and VG8 and I would only go that high because I believe that it is a weak strike. Just for point of onfo, a VF reverse should have a full horn - or nearly so since they are fudging now-a-days.
This is one reason I don't collect or sell Buffalo's. Not only do I find the design to be ugly, the grades are all over the place on these. Open a Heritage catalog and you can find tons of high MS certified coins where the horn is barely visible. I wouldn't dare to guess a grade on this 25-d. If you said it was VG, there would be an argument that it must grade at least Fine because of the horn. Who knows.....
You're right. When I have a question about a coin, I scan it at 4800 DPI and zoom in, but a loupe would save time and maybe I would find more errors.