So This came out of a box last week as a no-date buffalo with a mint mark on the reverse. At first I thought it was a "D" but under closer magnification it turned out to be an "S". I soaked it in vinegar for a few days and that revealed 1913 as the date. Now I can't tell if it is a type 1 or 2. Any thoughts?
That's what I was leaning towards too. Just spent too much time looking at it Needed a 2nd (and 3rd) opinion. Thanks!
Type 1, on a mound. Type 2 is on a plain. Type 1 was highly susceptible to premature wear on the reverse, often wearing off the "Five Cents" so they re-designed it with a plain to protect this.
Type 1, as others have said. Study and learn to distinguish that Type-1 mound from the Type-2 ground; it's not difficult, and once you can, you'll never have to acid-treat a Type 1 again. I'm not sure an acid-treated Type 1 is worth much less than an untreated, dateless Type 1, but I'd rather not treat any coin if I can avoid it.
Yeah I know the difference between the two. It was so bad though that I was having a hard time telling anything on the coin. Probably if I had looked a bit longer I could have seen it Meh, it's a hole filler so no biggie.
I've often found that when I'm having trouble seeing a detail on the coin (even with loupe), that detail jumps out at me when viewing an enlarged photo of the coin.
The political intrigue and in-fighting over the design of the Buffalo Nickel makes for interesting reading. See the Wikipedia entry on the Buffalo Nickel.
