Scarred Buffalo

Just checking with some of the experts out there. This is a 1935 Buffalo nickel with a perfectly straight line across his back. I know it's hard to see in the photo but it's also hard to see it on the coin unless you turn it to the correct lighting. The line goes from the edge of the coin through the eye all the way to the front of his hind quarters. What do you think? Is it a scratched coin or a die error?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Looks like a scratch to me since it extends not only over the devices but also across the rims.

 

Scratched coin. Note that it skipped the areas of low relief (fields).

 

Scarred Buff

This is a perfect line from edge of coin to front side of hind quarters. I would think that a scratch would be irregular.

 

If someone is fanciful enough, one can use a ruler to guide a scratch to be straight. I honestly haven't seen a die crack anything that straight and that length if it happened to be one.

 

If it is a scratch (which is exactly what it appears to be) the mark will into the coin. If it is a die crack the mark will be raised.

 

Imagine a knife blade cutting the surface. That would be completely straight.

 

You are right. But what are the odds of finding two 1935 Buffs with the same cut lines.

 

I think it's been cut into the surface because you can see the discoloration underneath the scratch.