I'm just starting to be interested in buffalo nickels and I just won a 1913 Type 1 Weds night for $20 and change. Dang! As I look around the type 2 looks like it will cost me more. I'll find out after I stop by my fav coin store. Anyone know anything about 2 feathers? thank you
$20.00 buff Yes I collect Buffalo nickels ,when I was a kid I got them back in change but always with no date. I always wanted a type 1 1913 .I just got a UNC one last week Like you ,The thing I like is the 3 in 1913 is cool you can tell its old school,I also like the mound. Great coin the Buffalo nickel ! It has a full horn but I dont know about 2.5 feathers ,hope someone can let us know all about it
Yeah I got them when I was young too! Have you seen some of the prices on evay!! I can't believe how collectible these have become. It's amazing, I really like the full horn and yes there's been many a time I've had to do a double take on the 3! :thumb:
I've wanted to start collecting them seriously, but have been too busy with other series to give them the attention they need. I put together a circulated set a while back to get a variety of worn examples in hand, but need to learn more about them before doing any serious upgrading. There are some interesting books about the "Renaissance of US Coinage" at the beginning of the 20th century...how the Mint "punked out" poor Charles Barber at the end of his career and how he pushed back against the new artists to maintain his dignity...fascinating stuff.
I just got a nice 1913 T1 at a yard sale for $20. I have 4 sets started. One set is in an old 1938 Whitman coin board. I just have one 1926-S and really only hope to complete one of the sets. If you all want Doug to chime in here just mention Nik-a-Date. lol
Don't really collect them, but I do like them. The few I have are common date coins. Good luck on your collection.
free reference online Stella Coin News has a free reference, The Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels by David Lange. www.stellacoinnews.com
I am glad to see that there are other seniors here--I too collected 'em from circulation as a youngster. I saved all with a date, and still have a ton of them. They are not worth much, and I often give 'em to kids just for the fun of it.
I have a set and it took a long time to build completely. The last coin I purchased was the 1913-S Type II. It is the most I ever paid for any coin. The grades run from a few VF to MS within the collection. It is truly a great set to collect. The costs from one of these to another can vary hudge amounts, more than any other collection I have. Great coin with a lot of interesting history. I think their popularity will only continue to grow.
Buffalos are one of the two series I collect (Walkers being the other). Type 1's can be absolutely beautiful and are fairly easy to find. There are dozens of ways and price ranges to collect the series. Two feathers are a variety and there are some diehard Buffalo variety collectors out there. If you are truly interested and serious in the series, I would suggest you purchase at least Lange's book on Buffalos. It has a great write-up on the history of the series -- Fraser's designs were not exactly popular with the powers that be at the mint, especially Mr. Barber, the Chief Engraver. Most entertaining is an exchange of letters between Fraser and an executive of a coin operating company that insisted that Fraser's designs be altered to fit machines in the coin operating industry! Anyway, Lange's book is great and has a detailed description of every date and mint combination. There is also a useful book by Wexler, Pope and Flynn entitled "The Authoritative Reference on Buffalo Nickels" which has detailed information on errors and varieties. Sorry to prattle on about books but there is a lot of information out there on the series. There are a lot of subtleties, such as what areas to look at first for strong v. weak strike. Lot of fun ahead of you. Enjoy it and let us know if there are any more specific questions. I'd like to see more Buffalo hunters on here.
Well I much appreciate the book tip, I'll have to check it out. I am totally facinated by the design on the buffalo nickel, but I have to admit it didn't come to me until I got me a unc. Now that is when you can see all the detail!! Anyways, I have a few already and here's my most recent buys. They're both 1913's, I got the T1 a couple days ago and I just got this BIN type 2 right now. The type 2 is on the bottom and both cost a little better than $20. I hope they are delivered as pictured, I don't think that's too much to ask. When it comes to unc buffalos that's when the prices go thru the roof!! It's amazing!! Glad I finally realized the beauty in these buffalos!!
It's nice to see people do this. I feel it is one of the easiest ways to get our youth interested in numismatics. I started collecting over twenty years ago, and the guy at our local coin shop used to give me $2 bills, silver certificates, and other items not often seen in circulation anymore. I also love places (usually supper clubs) that still give out half dollars in change. Anyway, back to buffalo nickels. I started collecting them two decades ago, and still need a couple pricey ones. But, it is one of the most rewarding and exciting series to collect.
You have a few nice ones to start with, by looking at the photos. I think the design is so special in part because it was so ground-breaking in comparison to the designs that preceded it.
I collected them as a kid as well. Sold the set in H.S. Now I just started a new set this year. I've got a pretty good start on it. Got several more at the show last week. Looks like everybody's getting their TY 1's lately! I picked this one up at the show for $49: I thought it was a great coin to start the set with. Looks good in the IS album. I also picked up a non-toned TY 2 there. The 38-D/S in my avatar is a NGC MS-66: It's hard not to love this series! I'm just doing a mixed set that I'm comfortable with. My main goal is for all to have, clear, readable dates. The dates are half worn on the vast majority I would say. As someone else stated earlier, the beauty of this set is that there's so many ways to put one together. The later ones are pretty affordable in high grades. I'm just doing a mixed set. Everything from VG on up to MS-65. Then I'll upgrade down the road as I feel like it. I added a 38-D toner and BU 38, P,D,S Jeffersons at the end to fill up the extra holes. Looks pretty cool. After you look at so many of them and you get used to seeing the horn, tail, hair ribbon, date and rims in various states of wear and luster, you can get the hang of grading them pretty easily as well. It's a popular set and even the semi-keys can be tough to find in any decent shape at all. Then when you do find one, don't expect a discount. There's always a lot of buffalos at the shows. But if you're ever looking through mixed batches of them, you'll get sick of finding 36's and 37's. If somebody has some in an old can, it's a good chance that's what they'll be. I've got about 50 of them.
