1913 type two – 1915 business strike buffalo nickels struck from matte proof dies

There are business strike buffalo nickels which have been produced from discarded or left over matte proof dies. These are easy to identify and in my opinion are variety coins!! To identify the reverse matte proof die, look for a straight line on the reverse rim to the left of the buffalo, at about 8:30. Once you seen one it is easy to recognize. Problem with trying to find one of these coins in an ngc or pcgs slab is the ngc pronged holder pretty much covers up this diagnostic and the horrible ragged pcgs rubber insert does the same […]

1920-S Two Feathers

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1920-S Two Feathers FS-401 38450

I purchased the above coin raw and unattributed on eBay. It is now graded F12 and attributed Two Feathers variety by PCGS. I own a second 1920-S 2F, graded VG10 attributed 2F by PCGS. And I own two raw 1920-S 2Fs, both in about Fine. When I began this post I thought all four coins were struck from the same die pair. However, upon closer inspection (required by taking all the photos!), I now believe three pairs of dies were used to strike these coins. I think.

The 1920-S Two Feather can be a […]

March 2011 Want Lists

This is the Want List post for March 2011. In the future I’ll make a new Want List post near the first of the month. Please Comment on this post to provide others with your current Want List.

Enjoy!

 

1918 Two Feathers

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1918 Two Feathers FS-401 38445

I purchased the above coin raw and unattributed on eBay. It is now graded VF25 and attributed Two Feathers variety by PCGS. I own a second 1918 2F attributed by PCGS and graded F12. I can not determine definitively whether these two coins were minted from the same or different dies.

The 1918 Two Feather can be a pure 2F as this example shows.

Die 1. 1918 2F, VF25. At high magnification you can see abrasion lines running roughly North East to South West with no trace of the third feather. Although less prominent, […]

1918-S Two Feathers

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1918-S Two Feathers FS-401 38447

I purchased the above coin raw and attributed from Larry Briggs Rare Coins. It is now graded XF45 and attributed Two Feathers variety by PCGS. I have owned other 1918-S 2F buffaloes in the past including two that I submitted and had attributed by PCGS, a VG10 and a VF30. I don’t have an image of the VF30, but the XF45, the VG10, and a raw 1918-S 2F that I own, all seem to have been struck from the same pair of dies – they have the same extensive clash marks.

The 1918-S Two […]

PCGS Submission: 1st quarter 2011

 

I sent PCGS my first order of the year on 1/31/2011. I included three separate submissions in a single parcel (saves on shipping/insurance). It was a mixed bag, including two additions and one upgrade for my Complete Buffalo Nickel Variety set and three additions to my varieties only Complete Walking Liberty Half Dollar Variety set, plus a few more buffalo nickels. Below are my comments on the coins before submission and the results.

Submission I. For attribution only: In PCGS database 2/2/2011. Results posted 2/8/2011. Shipped 2/24/2011.

Submission II. Raw coins for grading and attribution: In PCGS database 2/2/2011. […]

1929 Double Die Obverse

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1929 Double Die Obverse FS-101 38458

I purchased this coin, unattributed in an NGC MS64 holder at a Bowers and Merena online auction. I broke it out of the slab and submitted it to PCGS. They attributed it Double Die Obverse and graded it MS 64+.

This is one of the last varieties I need for my set. I thought I had found it previously, multiple times. I was mistaken because I always seemed to see doubling in the shadows in and around the date. Look for example inside the loop of the first 9 below. While the North […]

1917-S Two Feather

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1917-S Two Feathers FS-401 38443

I purchased the above coin raw and unattributed at a local coin dealer’s shop. It is now graded VF25 and attributed Two Feathers variety by PCGS. I have a second coin I found raw and unattributed on eBay which now is graded VF20 and attributed Two Feathers by PCGS. The two coins were struck from different dies. The VF25 coin is missing the designer’s initial F (also known as a 2FNF for Two Feather No F) while the second is not. The S mint marks also look distinctly different.

The 1917-S Two Feather can […]

1917-D Two Feather

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1917-D Two Feathers FS-401 38442

I purchased the above coin raw and unattributed on eBay. It is now graded XF40 and attributed Two Feathers variety by PCGS. I have a second coin in about Fine which has not been submitted to PCGS. Both coins appear to have been struck from the same pair of dies.

The 1917-D Two Feather is very close to a pure 2F. However there is a small faint remnant of a feather present.

Die 1. At high magnification you can see traces of the third feather, as a raised long, narrow island near the long […]