Buffalo Nickel: MS Or Matte Proof? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 3 / Views: 1,751
Jaobler Pillar of the Community United States 6381 Posts	Posted 01/23/2008 11:24 am Do we have any Indian Head/Buffalo nickel collectors and/or Matte Proof specialists out there? Here is my 1915 nickel. Can anyone tell for sure whether it is a Mint State coin or a Matte Proof coin? If so, what are the markers and indications to look for? Report this Post to the Staff

biokemist6 Bedrock of the Community United States 12437 Posts	Posted 01/23/2008 1:27 pm Well, I am certainly no expert on matte proof buffalos but the main things to look for are a razor sharp strike and squared, centered rims. If you compare yours to the 1915 mattes at Heritage Auctions, you will see the differences I am talking about. Yours has a nice strike for a business strike, but it is nothing compared to an authentic proof. Report this Post to the Staff
Jaobler Pillar of the Community United States 6381 Posts	Posted 01/23/2008 6:42 pm Geez, Biokemist, I hope you are wrong! I bought this coin at a show after getting a second opinion from a dealer that I consider to be knowledgable. He confirmed it as a proof and I remember him pointing out the squared rims. Under a scope the rims are indeed sharp and square. I also notice that the fields are deeply basined around the devices and slope up to meet the rim. I was hoping to learn some sure-fire way to detect matte proofs, but maybe there is no such thing! This is another coin that I want to get into a PCGS slab. Hopefully PCI and my dealer friend attributed it correctly, but I'll be a lot more confident if PCGS backs them up! Report this Post to the Staff
biokemist6 Bedrock of the Community United States 12437 Posts	Posted 01/24/2008 11:23 am quote: Under a scope the rims are indeed sharp and square. I also notice that the fields are deeply basined around the devices and slope up to meet the rim. Doh Well, photos aren't always the best way to authenticate something and I just proved it... That is why in hand viewing is the best- I cannot see deeply basined fields in the 2-D photo but it should be readily apparent in hand. If you see the deep basining, that is a good thing. Might be plastic glare that is obscuring the rims for me as well as it appears soft around LIBERTY on obverse and by the tail on the reverse, or maybe my eyesight needs to be checked after searching 5000 cents for Coppercoins project I know that Lincoln matte proofs have a "sandblasted" appearance giving it a bit of texture instead of a smooth surface. I would think that the buffaloes should have a similar appearance. I cannot tell either way from the pics but good magnification in hand should be able to see it. Good luck with the cross, it will be much more desirable in a PCGS slab! Edited by biokemist6 01/24/2008 11:24 am Report this Post to the Staff
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