1924-S Bison Nickel - Opinions On Condition

Nice coin! You should change the topic heading to reflect that it is a 1924-S.

The 1924-S is a tougher date with a decent grade or decent strike. There is one die pair for the year that produced most of the better struck examples. I cannot determine from the photos whether this coin is from that die pair. Your coin looks like it is MDS, with the reverse possibly EMDS. The strike is above average for the date, about the lower end of the top third of 1924-S coins. The die clashing is average and the die polishing is moderate. Based on the photos, the technical grade looks to be AU-53, and just barely below AU-55.

My main concern with this coin is whether it would straight grade. The obverse has some fairly heavy scratches in the hair above the knot and on the high points of the cheek, and a lot of smaller nicks on the face and cheek. The reverse has more typical nicks for a mid-AU coin. I cannot see clearly what is going on in the reverse field above the buffalo's back to the left of EPU.

There are also some areas where it looks like either pixelation in the photograph or surface pitting on the coin, such as the Indian's cheek and nose, most noticeable on the bridge of the nose. This could either be just the lighting and photograph, but if it is on the coin could suggest removal of corrosion spots. You have the coin in hand and can better judge this issue.

I think the obverse scratches are a tossup whether a TPG would detail the coin. The number, location, depth, and recency of the scratches are factors. Again, this is a nice coin and it looks like either AU-53 or AU Details.

I agree with the AU grade. Nice coin! If you don't mind telling us, how much did you pay for it?

Thanks very much for the feedback so far. I was afraid I was being optimistic at CEF, but that split in the tail is definitely in its favour. Also the ribbon in the top hair tie has just enough definition, though the one around the braid has nearly none. I think the latter is a die issue.

I won this through a local auction website here in New Zealand about 16 years ago. I don't know what the reserve was, but I asked the seller if they'd take a buy now of NZ$200 from memory. Been a while, but I think that's the number. Initially, they turned me down. This was before smart phones were widespread, and I didn't have one. I read their reply and went off to work. Then I was able to check that they'd changed their mind and put a buy now of $200 on it. But I couldn't bid from work! And I knew there was someone else who was big on his Bisons here who would be keen on it. I think he'd even asked a question on the auction as well.

I called home because my son was off school that day and got him to get on the site and buy it from my account. Luckily, he got in just in time. I was pleased. Sadly, that site is generally a shadow of its former self with a lot of mass-produced garbage, often coming from offshore, and lots of cruddy bullion in the "coin" section.

As far as pitting or other surface issues go, I feel like I've highlighted in this image what look like rollermarks or planchet imperfections from his forehead to the left edge. Maybe there's more of this happening elsewhere?

I'll try and take some better photos. I'm still learning with my macro lens.

All good, fortcollins. I appreciate all your thoughts and insight, particularly into how TPG might go. I've still not ever submitted anything, but it's good to have an idea of how unpredictable it can be, and what issues might be expected I am very pleased with this piece. It's the pride of the herd.