1924 5c Buffalo Nickel

Wondering what is going on on top of the buffalo's head

VF-25

Unlike the recession years of 1921-22-23, the economy was strong in 1924. Despite this, the mintage was only average in Philadelphia and anemic in Denver and San Francisco. It is a common date, but well struck coins with matching die states are a bit hard to find.

Your coin is a typical 1924 strike, with a later die state obverse than reverse. As @Coinfrog pointed out, there is a die clash. The obverse die has been polished heavily to eliminate evidence of the die clash. This is most evident in the loss of detail on and near the second feather. Interestingly, the reverse die was not addressed as well as the obverse, which is why you see the spike on the buffalo's head. (That really isn't the elusive Bufficorn. It's the remnant of the second feather clash.) The buffalo's right rear leg and parts of EPU show evidence of the die polishing, though.

The obverse shows separation of the hair from the cheek, even wear on the forehead, hair, knot, braid, and ribbon, and a solid date. The reverse shows a full but weak horn, decent detail on the eye, a full and weakly split tail, about half the hair on the back, less than half the hair on the buffalo's head, loss of detail on the left front leg, and average wear on the hindquarter. USA and FIVE CENTS are strong.

Overall, I see the obverse as VF-35, the reverse as EF-40, and a blended grade of VF-35.

I'm with @moxking on the PVC issue. That needs to be addressed to preserve the coin. Overall, pretty decent coin, with an interesting clash mark.

Thanks for sharing the coin with us!

Thanks for fhe lesson fc. You really enhance the hobby for the rest of us!

VF35

This came in. Thoughts? Thanks!