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 Replies: 9 / Views: 945 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5673 Posts |
I'd like to get some thoughts on these two mint state Buffalos. Both have nearly identical mint luster. The main difference is that the 35-P has a reasonably good strike, while the 35-S has a pretty flat strike. I have two questions. First, would you take the strike into account when assessing the grade? Second, considering that the 35-S is a more valuable coin at the same grade, which coin is more desirable? In other words, if you were offered each at the same price, which would you choose? 1935-P Buffalo  1935-S Buffalo  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
Quote:
First, would you take the strike into account when assessing the grade? Maybe unintentionally, but it should not be a factor in a coin's grade. The 1935 P is very nice, not too many contact marks, and a clean buffalo. The 1935 S has chatter all over, but that is obviously from an incomplete strike. Same thing, hardly any post strike contact marks. Overall, I think these merit the same grade, but the strong strike is always superior and more desirable. I am sure PCGS/NGC/ANACS would say the weak struck coin is a lower grade, they put emphasis on eye appeal. Quote:
Second, considering that the 35-S is a more valuable coin at the same grade, which coin is more desirable? For a type set, the 1935 P wins all day long. The 35 S is ugly for a high grade. I am not familiar with the buffalo market, but bust half collectors like a crisp strike and would gladly pay a hefty premium if one came to market. Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I would take the 35-P over the 35-S if they were the same price . I'm not a fan of weak strikes nor do I accept coins with mediocre eye appeal . I know it's not condoned but at times I will grade a coin by it's strike .  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I'd grade the '35 at MS-63 and the '35-S at perhaps MS-64, but it's a real pancake.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36782 Posts |
The P coin is a beauty. MS-66. The S coin MS-64.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11896 Posts |
The 35s has a hit in the focal center at the center of the cheek under the eye which adds to the strike issue. The P is the better coin in more than just the strike.
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18680 Posts |
if you havent checked out the comments on the 25S recently posted after you commented there was a continuation of the issues with the series. your two coins confirm what was going on the San Fran mint even in the same year coins which is an interesting comparison the problem is part of that discussion where a TPG may not take into consideration the issues noted at SF mint and may assign a lesser grade based on strike. i agree with IGE on grade MS66 and MS64 at the same price the P is going to be valued much higher than the S so that would be my choice at these grades. I think if the S did not have as many PM marks, as stated by jacrispies, the coin would grade MS65 and would be worth a little more than the P to answer your question, Quote:First, would you take the strike into account when assessing the grade? Quote:
strike should always be a component in the grade but anyone collecting this series need to be more knowledgeable about all the issues with them. imo a coin should be graded as it would have come from the mint and therefore I would not deduct for the strike on this S coin however I would think value wise if you were to find a 35S fully struck there would be, imo, a premium for it. in this specific case the only thing on the S coin keeping it from a 65 is not the strike but the marks. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36782 Posts |
 , you nailed it. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5673 Posts |
Interesting seeing the different perspectives on these two coins. Personally, I would have graded the 35-P as a 65+, and the 35-S as a 64, mainly because of the weak strike and the single ding on the cheek (I believe all the central chatter on the 35-S is due to the flat strike, as there are very few marks elsewhere). So I would agree that the 35-P is more desirable, especially for a type set. For circulated coins it's important to distinguish wear from a weak strike, but I think for mint state coins strike has to be considered in the grade.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36782 Posts |
We use to use Unc, BU, CH BU and Gem BU before Sheldon. Weak strikes never got a Gem BU grade, Choice BU was the best they'd get. A Gem had to be MS-65 or above, strong strike, and a 65 in 1980's was what you'd see 66 and 67 at now.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 945 |
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Posted 07/11/2022 3:58 pm
