Are these Lines on the edge of this buffalo nickel normal? I've never seen Iines on one like this before. Thank you for any feedback.
Yes those are either shear lines from the punching out of the blanks that have not completely wiped out by the upsetting and striking, or second possibility the are lines created during the ejection of the coin by tiny irregularities on the wall of the collar. If you really look at the modern plain edged coins you will often see them, you can also see them in the reeds of the reeded edge coins struck from new collars. Silver eagles are usually good for seeing this.
Welcome to CT Aaron. We love to see full photos (Full Image) of both obverse and reverse of coins to get a good idea of what we are looking at. Your post is fine as that was your only question, so easy to answer. Love Buffalo Nickels.
Idk but I am thinking I may have found a 1927 special strike. Let me know if I'm hallucinating lol. Thanks for all your responses.
Thanks for the excellent photos. I'm not sure what you mean by a "special strike." There are years and mint marks that have better struck coins than others and Q. David Bowers goes into a lot of detail of strike quality in his book The Official Red Book, A guide book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels. He states that there are literally no known 1927 with full detail and comparing your photo with a photo of a full detail strike, you can see what he means. Your coin is a typical strike detail and probably in the MS range.
Would you please elaborate on why you think it's a "special strike". What characteristics to you see that make it different than a regular business strike. Have you checked the literature? Do you have extensive experience collecting Buffalo Nickels that might add some credibility to your opinion? Or are you just guessing because you think it looks different to you?
Im sorry for not staying my reasons earlier. I hope im not wasting y'all's time. On the reverse the is a die crack that you can see at the buffalo's back and goes across the R and the I in Pluribus and the E in America to the rim of the coin. It also goes across the buffalo's body and across its back leg and to the other rim in the little area under the grass ground where it says five cents. Ive only seen this die crack on the matte proof buffaloes, the satin 1936 proof, and1927 special strike buffaloes. The coin is listed as Specimen 1927 Buffalo Nickel, SP65 Probably Struck From Chromium-Plated Dies One of Only Three Pieces Known 1927 Special Strike 5C SP65 PCGS. This coin also has a different texture to the fields and also shows the micro cracking or crazing pattern in the other coins labeled special strike. It's got the flat rim at 8 o'clock on the reverse. Idk but I honestly think this coin is a special strike. There is only 5 supposedly.
I can't help you with what it is or isn't, but it is one of the nicest Buffalo Nickels I have seen. I hope it turns out to be what you think it is......Good Luck!
Based upon the write up on HA (https://coins.ha.com/itm/proof-buffalo-nickels/1927-5c-sp65-special-strike-pcgs/a/1114-1585.s) I'm not sure I'd agree, but if it were mine, I think I'd send it to Jim Halperin for authentication. If it is a "special Strike" you've hit a home run. Let us know what the outcome is.
