At what point do you guys consider a Buffalo to be a No Designer Initial variety? I’ve found some that have absolutely no trace of the F, and others, including a couple of these, that have what appears to be a void, a scratch or maybe just the hint of part of the letter. Where do you draw the line? Click on photos for larger image.
One of the dates I’ve found that exhibits either no trace of the designer initial, or like this one, what appears to be a faint top bar.
This one is typical of every 1920 example I’ve found, with a depression suggesting the die is eroded rather than the F being polished away.
Top bar, similar to 1919 above.
Have a couple that loook like this
The cleanest of this date I’ve seen, a recent find.
I’d say they all look to be No F’s to me. My criteria is that if there is any part of the F remaining, it must be weak and can’t look like an F. This allows a component of the F to be marginally visible, and for me still to consider it a No F.
I don’t think I understand your comment on the 1920. A depression on the coin means a raised area on the die, and vice versa. An eroded die should lead to a depression on the die and therefore a hill on the coin. I’d say a portion of the raised (probably mangled) F was not removed from the die. This would leave a hill on the die and therefore a depression on the coins minted. Am I missing something?
Are the 1935 and 1936 both Philadelphia’s? I think those are hard to find.
A good point on the die erosion on the 1920. I based my “theory” on the general weakness of detail and uneven surfaces in that area of the coin that is probably not clearly apparent in the photo. I have observed the same condition on some of my 2-feather Buffalos in similar grades that I believe are later die states. Could it be a rusted die instead? I once had another 1920 Buffalo in an old ANACS MS-61 holder that I sold as the regular issue after an ANACs grader at a show told me he could see the F. Wish I had it back now.
All the coins are Philadelphia mint, as a nearly most of my other No Fs, except for a couple of 1935-Ds.
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Here’s a 1924 no F variety and a nice one….If the images load…
These, like some of the 2 feather varieties, are very subjective. One persons missing initial may not be another persons NF. I would consider them to be NFs if the top horizontal bar of the “F” initial or less is showing.
ANACS (when they were REALLY ANACS and not ICG in disguise) previously would slab and attribute many of the lesser known dates but I’m sure this is no longer the case.