Got this one in the mail just a few minutes ago, I'm having a tough time with it. I know its a weak strike, but is it a AU slider? I'm having a hard time determining weak striking vs. light wear. Any help will be greatly appreciated!
this is wear and not weak strike. The top of the buffalo's shoulder is where I see a very small rub. The obverse looks clean to me. there is one area on the cheek that could be rub, but could also be weak strike, you can't tell from the photo. I might add that these photos are spectacular! Kudos to whoever did them!
I'd call it wear myself. Reason behind that is the slight color difference in the areas that look weak especially on the reverse.
the flip said MS63, it was a ebay purchase, so I took that grade with a grain of salt. Paid $21.00 for it shipped. I assumed AU would be what I was to get.
Very close to my eyes as being I do see some slight wear and the strike is weak. Nice coin for what you paid.
I think there is wear on the buffalo's shoulder and back hip. Nice looking for an AU coin -- the die erosion actually plays well with the rough surfaces of the Type 1 Buffalo. As I have said numerous times on here, the Type 1, IMO, is the apex of American coinage. Nothing quite like it before or since -- I love the Type 2's as well but the Type 2's were certainly not an improvement from an artistic point of view. Enjoy it and thanks for sharing.
I have to completely disagree with you on that one. Although the 1913 Buffaloes could be considered at the very top of American coinage design, just 3 years later in 1916, the introduction of the Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dime, and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar whose designs were IMHO, hardly steps downward. 1916 marks the pinnacle if you ask me.
Mike I collect two series -- Buffalos and Walkers and I have always liked the Mercury Dime design so I can appreciate your point (though I don't agree with it). The Type 1 Buffalos were a radical departure from anything that preceded them in American coinage and Fraser had to fight tooth and nail to get his design on the five cent piece. The Type 1 design is his design and IMO the most beautiful one we have ever seen (in all deference to the Walker, which I obviously think highly of as well). The Type 2 design modifications were mint-induced and some of the beauty of Fraser's design was dampened to meet the concerns of "FIVE CENTS" wearing away in circulation and the prejudices of Chief Engraver Barber's toward his own "classic" designs. I will say a 1916 Type Set would be a nice thing to try to collect.
thanks for the confirmation, I'm not too familiar with this series and I knew that it had weak strike dates. AU55-58 will work for my series right now. I'll replace it sometime next year, but for now, it'll stay.
Don't forget the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. Just bought this one, I was the only bidder, don't know if it was a great buy like the one above. Below 16 bucks, sellers pictures;
