Strange buffalo nickel

This nickel sure is strange. I cannot tell the last number in the date, possibly 6 or 8? Potentially rusted dies, or just heavy die deterioration. Die crack going horizontal from the buffalo’s leg. Pitting on different parts of the coin, to include devices. Missing the third feather. I can’t help but wonder if this is a counterfeit? I feel like the leg crack would be more known. Any thoughts on this? Sorry for the poor photos, I’ve been really struggling with my microscope. I think I need to fix my lighting and coin background. Potentially too much light.

 

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I’ll hazard a guess. No date, ND, with vinegar bath
Neat die crack

 

At first I thought just the usual worn, but I see that the rim is strong and well defined and legends are still nice. About 1/2 horn shows. That business on the leg is interesting. Do you think that could be 1923?

 

I don’t think so. It looks like ODV-07 rather than ODV-05.

 

You're probably right, the "3" would have a flat top, and the last digit does seem to overlap the ribbon.

 

For those of us not well-versed in Buffalo nickels, could you please put that into layman’s terms and let me know what you think?

 

Let me take a stab at interpretation
1928 P and Put it out to Pasture

 

http://www.varietyvista.com/03 Buffalo Nickels/Obverse Design Varieties.htm

 

Agree, it looks like ODV-07 to my untrained eye. That would make it a 1926 or 1928 - any other diagnostics to narrow it down?

 

I want to say counterfeit, but I think it was once a heavily corroded coin. I agree with ODV-07.

 

I'd say it's counterfeit.

 

Thank you! Always learning here

Phew! I thought I was getting paranoid.

 

I notice 2-feather variety - not sure if that’s true for either date off the top of my head. But grainy condition and 2-feathers might further the case for a counterfeit.

 

1926 D and 1928 S have a two feather variety. Your specimen is without a Denver or San Francisco mint mark.

 

Fred has a point, there are many raised areas in common with a pitted surface, that is usually common with counterfeits.

I will say that I haven't ever ran across a counterfeit Buffalo. I am sure they are out there. If I did, I would have bought it.

 

I agree. When I saw the irregular surface, I was thinking a rusty die face with pits. Fred’s comment struck me as a possibility so I took a second look. To your point, counterfeiting a common Buffalo wouldn’t make sense. But possibly a variety Buffalo. The 1926 D and 1928 S 2-feather varieties fetch a fair sum in moderate/better conditions. So, that may be what we are seeing here.

 

Sorry about that and a very good point. Always a better idea to put an extra line in to explain something especially where someone new finds a thread a month/year later.

 

I’d walk a mile for a contemporary counterfeit buffalo nickel.
Sure would be nice to find others
Maybe a little AI magic would help

 

You and me both.

 

Appears to be a 1926.