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 Replies: 11 / Views: 724 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
These are sellers images and the only ones I have to offer. Please provide your thoughts on this 1914-S Buffalo/Bison nickel. Do you see a die break behind the neck? What would account for the strike weakness? What grade would you assign? Thanks for your insights.   "Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
Edited by Bump111
08/22/2022 12:24 pm
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
I do not like the corrosion on the reverse or the spot on the chin. John1  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
I think it's a clash mark from the animal's back.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Some detractions, but I'll say AU-53.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36883 Posts |
I agree, decent AU-53 even with those small spots.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3327 Posts |
I thank you all for your comments so far. Quote:
I think it's a clash mark from the animal's back. I considered that, too. If it is a clash, it would mean that the dies were rotated by a good bit for it to line up. But, since that wasn't uncommon for these coins, It is a very plausible explanation. "Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
92 Posts |
It is a clash behind the neck area and should be the normal position (dies are aligned properly). It is the unusual clash that often leads to them abrading the die and removing all or part of the 3rd feather along with the clash. The strike looks fairly good, it might just be that LIBERTY is lighter on 1913-14-15 and this is more of a middle to late die state. The front of the Indian's neck is quite abraded maybe from removing an EPU clash. The obverse looks better maybe AU 50/53 but reverse looks more like XF-45.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4680 Posts |
I'm at AU 53 sharpness on this one, but a Details coin for me. Definitely a die clash on the first obverse from the buffalos back. It is also the removal of that clash where we start to see the 3rd feather abraded and eventually the 2F variety. Does look like it was a misaligned die clash, not by much, maybe 10 degrees. Strong clashes like that are always fun to find.
Portions of this coins surfaces look messed with and not original to me, primarily on the reverse. The fields and rim below the buffalos belly and hind leg look altered (thumbed or lightly polished, possibly from a cleaning). Possibly some residue or lacquer on the reverse just inside the rim from K7-K9. Also, the spot of corrosion in TS in cents. Just some things to point out.
Edit: 1buff beat me to it!
Edited by Ty2020b
08/22/2022 3:19 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
Thanks to all the CCF experts for your continued comments. This one is up for auction in a few days and I'm not sure if I want to bid. It is an interesting coin, so if the price is right I'll probably bite. Fortunately / unfortunately as the case may be, detailed coins don't bother me too much if it doesn't overly detract.
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18714 Posts |
i can agree with the AU53 grade. there are a lot of things on these earlier buffs going on and you have some good comments here concerning this coin. I dont know enough about specific years but maybe a different reverse die pairing from the obverse and could account for the strike disparity (just a guess)
i find the buffs (especially the earlier ones) along with bust half dollars as two of the more difficult series to grade properly due to the die/strike issues encountered. fortcollins is the resident expert on these but we havent heard from him in a while.
not sure whats going on with the "S" hopefully its not something that would details the coin. if it has a return policy and the price is right it might be a good chance to take but if the price is close to the $150 range i'd probably pass.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
I appreciate the further insights, @panzaldi. What intrigues me about this coin is that the mint probably removed this die from service after this event. I haven't heard of 1914S two-feathers, and it almost certainly would have been polished away if they had reworked the die. From the looks of it, there wasn't much meat left on that bone anyway.
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Replies: 11 / Views: 724 |
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Posted 08/22/2022 12:47 pm
