Buffalo Nickel 1917-D Toned

I'm sorry to say it's G-06 Details . Lots of problems .

The scratch that goes all around the reverse is from a coin counting/wrapping machine. Could even be from a vending machine that damaged it.
John1

The coin you see in this picture is graded by ANACS as VG08, so when I compare my coin with much better details and I ask experts about the grade and they say G details or G06 it makes no sense to me. That's why it would be better for me to also get an explanation as to why it's a G details. If I compare it to the VG08 coin from ANACS mine can even fall into the category of F12, but if the the damage on the coin destroys the grade then that would be understandable.

The VG8 ANACS is over graded it should be a G06. Here is what I see on your coin. The obverse has a partial date and rim wear into liberty. On reverse no horn visible, rim wearing into the buffalo head, significant damage on on letters and scratch through buffalo head. The toning on the coin does not look natural. I am on the fence between 06 and 08. I am going to put the coin into the O6 details damaged bucket because of the damage and toning.

You are comparing apples to oranges in the Buffalo nickel world. Strike weakness/strength and die state ply HUGE factors in the remaining detail that can be seen once the coin has started to wear. Coins that came right out of the mint with a weak strike and or later die state are going to appear in a much lower grade than they "technically" are once they seen even a small amount of wear.

The ANACS VG08 1918/7-D you posted looks correct, maybe G06 to a strict grader, IMO. It's a later die state, hence alot of the mushy details you see. This one likely lost the majority of its higher relief details and most of the horn in the Fine range of grading.

Due to die state issues and weak strikes, grading solely by the amount of horn remaining is very unreliable, especially when it comes to weak strikes. Realistically, grading solely by the horn is only reliable will average to well struck examples.

Tough to judge yours from the images, but looks MDS and flairly well struck, as alot of 17-D's were. I wouldn't argue the consensus of G06, but would lean towards VG08 myself, Details due to reverse damage. The small bits of toning also look unnatural.

I always get a good laugh from new people arguing against veterans.

This coin is G6 Details.

Regarding the toning, I also question that it's natural. The rainbow coloring, like the blues on the reverse, for a well worn coin would be extremely unusual IMO and leads me to be suspect. Colorful and natural toning is more to be expected in AU+ specimens, but is still the vast minority.

Sorry about that scratch. It kills the value no matter how much we want to find other points of merit. Like another said above, it's maybe $10 no matter how we hope it away or distract ourselves.

Regarding the full horn / split tail grading on these. I view it as a point of debate on XF+ coins. I feel it's a moot point for VF or less at the other wear on the coin is defining it. Don't let someone talk up a VF as AU especially in value because "it's got a full horn." Buyer is being taken for a ride at that point.