It looks counterfeit to me, but IMO it's worth sending to ANACS just to find out. I'm wondering whether the S could have been hammered in to a 1926-P, followed by some careful metal relief to make it stand out. I looked at a lot of counterfeits online and didn't see any that had an S as crude as this.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
I was a bit puzzled why anyone would fake a Buffalo nickel mint mark, until I looked up the value of a 1926-S on NumisMedia price guides. Amazing the difference that tiny bit of metal can make.
Thanks to everyone who posted a reply. I decided to return the coin to the seller for a refund. Depending on what the seller decides to do with it I suppose it may resurface in the market again. It could be used as an educational tool to help other collectors but that decision is in the seller's hands.
Upper grades command a significant premium. Value on this coin would not warrant MM alteration however, might be a practice coin before attempting on a MS-level specimen.
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