YOWZA!Three-and-a-half checkmarks on my buy-it-if-you-see-it scale.
Matching early die states.
Check. EMDS obverse and reverse, very nearly EDS for both.
High grade.
Check. More on that later.
Well struck.
Check. The full rachis is visible on the first feather, as well as the second. LIBERTY is very strong for a 1913-14-15 Buff. The date and ribbons are rock solid. The entire reverse is crisp, with sharp peripheral lettering, strong details on the buffalo's legs, sharp eye, horn, tail, and hair detail.
Minimal clashing and die polishing.
Half-check. There is evident clashing, but very little die polishing to remove the clashing.
These dies clashed in a very slightly rotated position. The chin/EPU clash has the early stages of the "comb" beneath the chin, and the chin clash is at an angle between PLURIBUS and UNUM. The "LIB" of LIBERTY / right rear leg clash is visible between the "I" and "B" of LIBERTY. The hairline / ground level clash is visible in the hair part and as a light angled line on the forehead, reflecting the slight rotation. The second feather / buffalo's head clash is very slightly misaligned. The neck / buffalo's back clash is very slightly visible as a slightly hairy neck, into the ribbons. As 1914s go, this is a relatively minimal clash. This is a known die pair, and has a few high grade examples online. (There is one 1914 die pair with a crazy clash that left a virtually complete EPU beneath the chin, Most letters are readable on that one.)
Grading: Zero evidence of circulation, fantastic surfaces.
Obverse: Ding on the eyelid, E-W scratch on the calamus of the second feather into the hair, light dings on and above the knot and at the crease of the chin. Solid MS-65/65+ in the real world, but MS-64 to PCGS.
Reverse: Spectacular. Two small E-W dings on the shoulder, small ding on the ground level near the left rear leg. Solid MS-67. Even PCGS would see the reverse as MS-66.
Bourse floor net grade: easy MS-66,
possible eye appeal adjustment to MS-66+.
As for PCGS, they have a bias ceiling at MS-64, and likely will full stop net this one at MS-65. If so, grin all the way to the bank. It's better than that. It's a strong CAC candidate.
Fantastic 1914. BTW, the light golden toning should be familiar by now. Thank Wayte Raymond for that!
Posted 06/01/2021 11:49 pm
