I'm trying to teach myself how to grade buffalo nickels using photograde and the books. I'm having trouble distinguishing between F / VF / and some XF. Even in photograde they look the same. Any tips you guys have picked up with them? Also below is an attempt I tried tonight. My Guess Was It Is VF.... am I correct
I would say VF is correct based on what I can see, but the glare on the obverse makes it hard to tell.
Is there any specific marking between a VF and XF? Because on photograde website some lower grades have more eye appeal than the higher grades
Benne, Buff's are one of the hardest to grade. First start by learning which years are weekly struck, primarily all 20's San Fran's. Then start on the reverse and the horn.
Benne - What you are experiencing is just one of the problems of trying to learn how to grade based on pictures and why all picture type grading systems fail so miserably. If you don't already own a copy get yourself a copy of the Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for US Coins. Then learn how to grade based on the written descriptions for each grade in it and forget about trying to grade based on pictures.
Thanks GDJMSP... I was using the black book along with photograde for comparison. I'll see if I can get a copy of the ANA one as well. I'm also trying to keep the grading more conservative rather than over grade a borderline coin
Then forget about using pictures completely and don't use them at all. Not even the ones in the ANA book. (they're worthless anyway)
I like to grade from the reverse, using the horn hair and tail to assess wear, from the ana guide," f12, horn and tail are smooth, but 3/4 visible" vf20, "the tip o the horn is visble," note that to be a vf20 the coin must also pass the lower grade requirements, so even if the tip of the horn is visible, but not 3/4 of the full horn, then the coin is not even a f12, vf30 "horn is worn but full, " xf40 "horn is full yet worn, but all details are visible," my method is to have a mint state example to know what are all the details that should be visible xf45"horn is sharp and nearlly complete." If I had a nickel for every dealer who wanted to pretend that a smooth horn barely 3/4 visible was an xf, I would have a buffalo nickel collection in f12 instead of xf40
Yup, used to be that way. But the ANA changed it in 2005 with their 6th edition. Now - F12 - horn and tail are smooth but partially visible VF20 - Point of horn is not always visible VF30 - Horn is worn but distinct on coins that are well struck EF40 - horn, hair and back are lightly worn EF45 - horn is sharp and nearly complete, although often weakly struck Since 1986 the ANA has only changed the grading criteria on 2 coins, the Buff in grades from F12 to EF45, and the Lincoln cent (wheaties only) in the same grade range.
heh, why is it that they lower the standards instead of raise them? I should have noted that I was quoting from the 4th edition. That is a rhetorical question, I have a pretty good idea why they lower and not raise standards.
I guess in the case of buffalos I can see the standards changing because I have seem buffalos where the horn is worn like that yet everything else looks good.. and worn coins with full horn etc
To me, the horn should be neglected for the most part because it is more of an indication of strike rather than wear. There are a multitude of uncirculated buffalo nickels that have flat horns. This is why full horn examples command such a high premium similar to mercury dime full split bands, Roosevelt dime full torches and so on. I'm not saying that it shouldn't be used as a grading focal point, but it should never be the end all in assessing a grade.
By ANA standards, even today's - yes. BY TPG standards, obviously not. It is up to the individual to draw their own conclusions from that.
