Is This A 1921-S Buffalo Nickel? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 9 / Views: 1,611
Saruma Pillar of the Community United States 968 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 01:50 am I just got a 1921 Buffalo nickel on ebay that I think is actually a 1921-S. I took a chance on it because it was only $4, so if I'm wrong I'm not out much. Although the date is somewhat worn I think it is clear enough to establish it as a 1921 (the ribbon shape helps confirm it). The potential S is extremely worn, to the point where you can't see it at some angles. However I think there is enough evidence of it being there that I want to avoid Nic-a-date if at all possible. What do you think of it? I plan to resell it, but I want second opinions first because I'd hate to call it an "S" if it isn't. It is really hard to photograph properly but I think you can see what I'm talking about below the "C". Since there is no 1921-D I can't imagine what this bump is if not an S. While I'm at it, what would you grade it? My guess is G4-G6. Thanks! The auction listing has a picture too (that's why I bought it!): http://www.ebay.com/itm/19058265388....m1439.l2649 Edited by Saruma 10/15/2011 02:03 am Report this Post to the Staff

macmercury Pillar of the Community United States 5825 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 02:08 am It looks more like a '8'. Report this Post to the Staff
Saruma Pillar of the Community United States 968 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 02:18 am The 1 is a little (not a lot) easier to make out in hand. Anyway, the ribbon helps confirm the date. The mint mark or lack thereof is the tougher call. https://goccf.com/t/96532 Report this Post to the Staff
murrellington Pillar of the Community United States 3276 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 05:21 am looks like a 1928 to me. but what do I know, I don't collect buffalos. Report this Post to the Staff
John1 Moderator United States 56855 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 07:06 am Looks like a 1928-D to me, but what do I know John1 Report this Post to the Staff
googoo Valued Member United States 466 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 11:19 am the man you want to help you with this is captainwiffo, he is the guy that put together the cheap set of ugly and dateless Buffalo nickels he taught me how to determine it so let me give it a shot first you can look at the left ribbon coming out of the indians hair and see that it is wavy and not straight narrowing your coin to 1920, 1921, or 1924 (I am almost 100% sure those are the only dates with the wavy hair ribbon) The ribbon is curved and straight for the other years of Buffalo nickels. Pick on up another Buffalo nickel and compare it to the coin you have. *Note*The ribbon is a little bit more wavy on the 1920 and 1921 then the 1924. Next thing to look at is detail above the braid where the ribbon comes into the hair. You can see detail shown by hair lines going up into the hair on the 1921 that aren't there on the 1920 or 1924 coins. Your coin has the wavy left side ribbon and the hair detail above the braid. As far as the mint mark, I see something there. Since in 1921 there was only one coin issued without a mintmark (P) and one coin issued with a mintmark (S) I would have to say that that is an S mintmark. Thus my conclusion is that you have a 1921 S Buffalo nickel. How did I do Captainwiffo? Congrats on what I believe is a pretty great coin how did you come across this bad boy Report this Post to the Staff
CaptainFwiffo Pillar of the Community United States 4132 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 11:54 am Googoo is correct that 1921 can be picked out dateless, and there seems to be a mint-mark there. A worn 1921 looks a bit like 1928 but if you have it side-by-side with an actual 1928 you'll see they don't match up. The hair detail and ribbon are a 100% positive ID. Nice cherry-pick. Report this Post to the Staff
Saruma Pillar of the Community United States 968 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 1:00 pm Thanks for the opinions, especially Googoo and Captainwiffo! It is really neat to put the things I learn on this forum into practice. I wasn't sure about the year until I double checked Captainwiffo's thread I linked above. Similarly, I had no idea you could tell type 1 vs. type 2 SLQs apart on very worn specimens (even 1916 vs. 1917) until I saw a thread here on CCF. You guys are really helping me increase my numismatic knowledge. Googoo, I was just looking through ebay for good deals. I saw this one (check the link at the bottom of my first post) and said to myself "that sure looks like a mint mark to me!". Since it was only $4 I decided to take a chance. I'm hoping to start selling coins on ebay to make a few bucks on the side. I know it is in rough shape, but at the same time if the MM wasn't so worn the seller would have seen it and sold it for what it is really worth! Edited by Saruma 10/15/2011 1:12 pm Report this Post to the Staff
googoo Valued Member United States 466 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 1:17 pm very nice! great pick up and once again thanks to captainwiffo for teaching me how to identify these, now if I can only find one like you did great work Report this Post to the Staff
googoo Valued Member United States 466 Posts	Posted 10/15/2011 1:17 pm I would take this coin off your hands for 4 dollars any day without a second thought Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 9 / Views: 1,611

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