Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 63

The Pre-Long Beach Auction of US, World Coins and Currency

Buffalo Nickels

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 693		1913. Type 1. PCGS graded Proof 66. Well struck with lovely rainbow toning. Only 1520 proofs struck. Historical accounts says that even the artist who designed this piece, James Earle Fraser, preferred the familiar term "buffalo" to the more zoologically correct bison. Semantics aside, the model for the buffalo nickel's reverse is known to have been a bull named Black Diamond. This animal was then a resident of New York City's Central Park Zoo and was already about seventeen years old at the time. Fraser's own correspondence reveals his exasperation in attempting to keep this beast posed in profile as depicted on the coin. Evidently quite uncooperative, it insisted on confronting the artist head on and would return to this stance immediately after being corrected. Pop 89; 45 in PF 66; 3 in PF68 (PCGS # 3988) . Estimated Value $2,600 - 2,800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 694		1913. Type 1. NGC graded Proof 66. Lovely delicate toning on both sides. Only 1520 Proofs struck. A high degree of luster graces the satiny silver surfaces of this illustrious Type One specimen, the only year of its Type, hence the only Proof available for those assembling a United States Proof Type Set. Pop 97; 42 finer. Proof coins of the Indian head/buffalo nickel type were struck for sale to collectors from 1913 through 1916 and again in 1936 and 1937 The Proof five-cent pieces of 1913-16 are normally referred to as "matte" Proofs, but this term is misleading. True matte Proofs have a dullish finish completely dissimilar to the surfaces of normal circulation strikes, and this technique of Proofing was used by the Mint exclusively for its gold coinage of 1908 and 1911-15, as well as for isolated issues of later years that were not sold publicly such as commemorative half dollars. The Proof nickels of 1913-16, like the cents of those years, more properly possess a satin finish. This varies in texture slightly from one date to the next and even within a single year's coinage. When found pristine, these coins are extremely beautiful and visibly distinctive from currency strikes. Estimated Value $2,500 - 2,700. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 695		1913. Type 2. NGC graded Proof 67. Boldly struck with lovely natural toning. A gorgeous Superb Gem of the finest order. The highly lustrous surfaces exhibit mingled medium iridescent hues. Nicely struck as well, which is only to be expected, which we feel merits mention here if only because it is so spectacular compared to the regular Type One currency issue made for circulation. In an old style NGC holder. Pop 37; 5 in 68. Estimated Value $2,700 - 2,900. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 696		1914. NGC graded Proof 67. Boldly struck and brilliant white. A sparkling and lustrous gem, one of those satiny beauties that can boast fully defined design features and at the same time provide the viewer a burst of nickel-silver brilliance on both sides. Pop 63; 9 in 68. An immediate question that arose following the introduction of the new nickel in 1913 was the identity of the obverse model. Pressed for an answer, designer James Earle Fraser eventually felt compelled to respond: he revealed the names of Iron Tail, a Sioux, and Two Moons, a Cheyenne, as being among the three models engaged. His memory failed him on the identity of the third, but the most reliable evidence suggests that the third model was Big Tree, a Kiowa. (For a detailed account of this fascinating coin, see David W. Lange's The Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels. Estimated Value $2,400 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 697		1915. PCGS graded Proof 66. Light golden toning adds to its appeal. A satiny gem with richly imbued luster provides the quality surfaces a strong foundation for Proof 66 status. Boldly struck for the date, indeed, as fine as this Proof is ever found. James Earle Fraser would have loved this one! Only 1,050 Proofs struck. Pop 124; 53 finer (PCGS # 3992) . Estimated Value $1,600 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,185
Lot 698		1916. PCGS graded Proof 66. Well struck and light steel-blue in color. A satiny gem of the most advantageous order for a collector. Its high degree of broad-spinning satin surface pulses beneath rich nickel blue and pale golden highlights. Razor-sharp with full definition at the usual Achilles' heel points on the Buffalo nickel: the braid is minutely detailed, the hair above the same, and the shoulder, head, horn and tail of the buffalo all finely distinguished down to the smallest detail. The mint strengthened the design in 1916 when it introduced a revised Master Hub. Most noticeable is the clarity in the word LIBERTY which before tended to fade into the field and rim. Only 600 Proofs struck. Pop 78; 34 finer (PCGS # 3993) . Estimated Value $2,300 - 2,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,795
Lot 699		1918-D, 8 over 7. PCGS Genuine, damage. Our grade is Sharpness of VF-30 with slight porosity. Popular 20th century overdate variety missing from most Buffalo Nickel collections. Due to increased demand for minor coins during the economic boom time of the First World War, the Engraving Department at the Philadelphia Mint (which makes dies for the branch mints as well) was engaged in the production of both 1917 and 1918-dated nickel dies in the last weeks of 1917. In order to ship as many dies to the branch mint at Denver as quickly as possible for the facility's 1918 delivery, the Philadelphia Mint mistakenly took a 1917-dated obverse die and gave it a second impression from a 1918-dated hub. The Denver Mint received this obverse die, mated it with a reverse die, and produced an unknown number of 1918/7-D Buffalo nickels. Most grade VG-Fine today, and it is likely that this overdate went unnoticed until several years after its release (PCGS # 3939) . Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 700		1918-S. NGC graded MS-65. Well struck, fully lustrous and untoned. The elusive quality of high-end 1918-S Buffalo nickels is well known in numismatic circles. Produced during World War I, the 1918-S was the casualty of economic events, in more ways than one. In order to save dies and prolong their life, the dies were, for the most part, spaced farther apart than standard to deliver strong blows to the coins, also, they were used far too long before being retired. David Lange explains this in his Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels (third edition, 2006): "This was done as a economy measure to reduce wear on both the dies and press and to thus extend their useful life. Such economy was practiced even more vigorously during the 1920s, as the budgets of most governmental departments were slashed by the parsimonious Harding and Coolidge administrations. "The Buffalo Nickel was a coin of relatively high relief, and it did take quite a toll on the dies. These wore rapidly, and such erosion is often evident on the actual coins. The reverse dies in particular were used too long, as they didn't need to be discarded at the end of each calendar year. The combination of increased die-set distances and worn dies produced the mushy, disappointing coins so often seen in this series." We are happy to say the present coin is a Gem example whose luster is its strong suit, shining energetically on both sides. The color is a wonderful nickel-bright sheen. The strike, far better than average, is particularly noteworthy on the reverse, where bold detail appears on the bison. With simply outstanding luster, delightful radiance, and a near-absence of contact, this piece deservedly merits a place in a top-rated set of Buffalo Nickels. Pop 14; 2 finer with 1 in 66, 1 in 66*. Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 701		1919-D. PCGS Genuine, environmental damage. Our grade is MS-62 with a reverse stain by the buffalo's head (PCGS # 3942) . Estimated Value $450 - 500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $483
Lot 702		1923. NGC graded MS-66. Well struck and delicately toned. Pop 40; 12 finer with 2 in 66, 9 in 67, 1 in 67 . Estimated Value $700 - 800. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 703		1926-D. PCGS graded MS-65 PQ. Nice bold detail with attractive toning on both sides. In a new secure plus holder. In our opinion, a Premium Quality coin for the grade. Clearly, we have landed a prestigious bold-strike '26-D Nickel for the sale and present it to you here. Precious few '26-D Nickels are as sharply struck as the coin in this lot. Specialists in this series knew early about the striking problems that plague this D-mint issue. Weak strikes generally limit the grade that they can obtain. The present example possesses all of the attributes that one should demand for the Gem Mint State level. At first blush you'd think it to be any of the bold P-mint issues struck in the later 1920s. But to everyone's delight, there is that "D" mintmark on the reverse. As for this coin's other attributes, the luster is full and blustery, and the surfaces are free of bothersome abrasions or flyspecks. Deserves a creditable bid! Pop 86; 26 finer (PCGS # 3958) . Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 704		1936. Type 2. Brilliant. PCGS graded Proof 66 CAC Approved. A glittering untoned Gem Proof of Premium Quality that sparkles like a diamond as light strikes the surface (PCGS # 3995) . Estimated Value $2,100 - 2,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 705		1937. PCGS graded Proof 66. A glittering gem with delicate light toning. Struck with scientific exactness throughout the main devices as might be expected on a Proof in this illustrious condition. Only 5,769 struck (PCGS # 3996) . Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,550. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 706		1937-D. 3 legs. PCGS graded EF-40 PQ. Housed in an Old Green Holder (PCGS # 3982) . Estimated Value $750 - 800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $978
Lot 707		1913-1938-D Complete Set of Buffalo Nickels. Lacking only: 1918-D overdate and 1937-D 3-legged. Coins range in grade from AG to AU and includes a few extras. All housed in a deluxe Dansco album. Estimated Value $800 - 900. View details	Realized $920
Lot 708		A partial collection of Buffalo Nickels in a deluxe Dansco album. A total of 49 different coins which include some semi-key dates. Coin will grade Good to Mint State. Many choice Buffaloes in this nice lot. Estimated Value $700-UP. View details	Realized $2,875
Lot 709		A nice high grade group of Buffalo Nickels in old Raymond folders. 1914-1931-S. A total of 36 coins grading Very Fine to Mint State. Includes some better dates and many of the coins are toned. Careful study is recommended. Estimated Value $700 - 800. View details	Realized $1,265