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 Replies: 21 / Views: 1,342 |
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
Hi. I need some Buffalo nickel experts to weigh in here. I picked up this coin and noticed it was much lighter in color than my other Buffalos. To the point that I thought it was a different composition that just nickel and copper. Upon closer inspection, I noticed it has a matte finish. Do I have a 1914 Buffalo nickel Matte Finish Proof? Should I send it in for grading? What grade would you give this coin?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2972 Posts |
First,  The photos are a bit too overexposed to see the surface details of your coin. Would you be willing to take new photos? Here are a few tips for getting good pictures of a whole coin:  Use a cell phone camera with the flash OFF. Use only natural lighting, such as a nearby window, but without beams of light directly coming in. Use a stack of 3 or 4 books to hold the camera steady. Have the camera just over the edge of the books and the coin on a sheet of white paper. Focus the camera to frame the coin. Use autofocus to get the details. Use either a timer or remote to keep the camera steady taking the picture. Thanks! |
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New Member
 United States
22 Posts |
Here are some bigger and hopefully better photos.   |
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
Thanks for the tips. I took your advice and I'm hoping these came out better.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5199 Posts |
Sure has strange surfaces - no feather details.......
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
Agreed. The surfaces are strange. It weighs 5.1 g which I know is still within tolerance. XRF confirmed it's cupro nickel. But the lighter pictures are closer to it's true color and I you can see the feather detail better. So I can say with confidence there is feather detail. The high points if the details remind me of a DMPL Morgan where you can see where the satin finish has worn away and it's become shiny.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17165 Posts |
Wonder if a 'careful' cleaning from long ago is going on here.
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
It's possible I guess but, for what it's worth, I do still see luster on the coin.
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
Here are some photos to show the color contrast between this one and a normal Buffalo.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1748 Posts |
I don't think it is a proof because the rim edges appear chamfered and not square and well defined. Coin almost has the look of a vinegar treated etched coin. Also notice the clash on the obverse under the chin and behind the neck.
Edited by MisterT
03/21/2025 9:41 pm
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
Agreed on the edges not being squared. Thats one of the reasons I'm unsure if it's a proof. Also no wire rim. But I don't know if early Buffalo proofs had wire rims. Vinegar etching is something I was unaware of. Do you have a pic you can share of a vinegar etched coin? Would vinegar etching also discolor the whole planchet?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1748 Posts |
Sorry, I don't have a pic of a vinegar treated coin but I have seen them up close and personal. Similar to using Nic-a-Date to acid treat the date, A bath in vinegar will give that washed out white look to a coin and graininess to the overall design. If you have any cull buffalo's try giving a bath over night in vinegar and you will see what I am talking about.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5199 Posts |
Quote:
Would vinegar etching also discolor the whole planchet? Vinegar is usually 5% acidic so in theory it can turn nickels a shade lighter. Just like Nic-a-Date turns the area you put it on a lighter color than the rest of the nickel.
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
Thank you Marve65 and MisterT. I wish I had better pics for you because these don't tell the whole story. You can't see it in the pics but it has shiny spots like a proof when viewed under magnification. But I'm afraid it'll come back UNC details if I send it in for grading. Or cleaned surfaces.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2972 Posts |
IMHO, the clearer photos show that your coin is a business strike, rather than a matte proof. The proof coins have exceptionally high relief on the knot and braids and have wide, squared rims. Your coin shows the normal relief for a business strike for that date. Philadelphia 1914 Buffs are generally well struck. In addition, your coin has an average amount of die clash polishing in all the usual areas, and the 1914 proofs have much less die polishing. Your coin has the Indian's neck / buffalo's back clash, polishing above and to the left of the eye, polishing at the chin, and polishing at the tip of the second feather. On the reverse, the buffalo's right rear leg has polishing to remove the clash with LIBERTY.
Acid washing could explain the pitted surfaces. Pitting is evident on the devices, lettering, and fields. Acid can be used for whole-coin detail recovery, but also is used to remove verdigris and spotting. I suspect that your coin has altered surfaces.
This is the best I can explain what I see in the photographs. You have the coin in hand. If you see things in hand that still suggest a possible proof to you, it may be worth taking the coin to a nearby show and having some of the dealers there look at it in hand. It also may be worth comparing it side-by-side with an early Buffalo proof.
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Valued Member
United States
172 Posts |
Welcome back @fortcollins, you were missed!
Agreed with many of the assessments, looks like someone treated the coin at some point.
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Replies: 21 / Views: 1,342 |
Posted 03/21/2025 3:49 pm
