Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 39

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Buffalo Nickels

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1207		1921 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-65. Well struck gem. Delicate violet with light blue borders. A first-rate gem with richly permeating luster that flows across the frosty toned surfaces. Satisfactorily struck for the date, indeed, about as excellent as 1921 is ever found (several flashy BU rolls surfaced years ago). A few light marks on the face, but nothing noteworthy. The coin's designer would have loved this one! (PCGS # 3947) . Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $776
Lot 1208		1921-S Buffalo Nickel. NGC graded MS-65. Well struck with lovely golden toning on both sides. Very choice. Although essentially brilliant, the smooth, satiny surfaces show a decided tinge of iridescent color cast at certain angles. And unlike the general run of S-mint pieces of this caliber, particularly the scarce 1921-S, the strike is thoroughly convincing in all places, even where some weakness is usually found at buffalo's head, horn and tail. A thoroughly beautiful Gem coin! Pop 29; 4 finer; 1 in 65 Star; 2 in 66; 1 in 66 Star. (PCGS # 3948) . Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $8,400
Lot 1209		1921-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-62 PQ. Satiny smooth luster subdue darker iridescense toning on both sides. A frosty golden specimen with strong underlying luster and rich toned highlights on both sides. Nicely preserved for the date, perhaps not fully so on the reverse where the bison shows a little softness, but certainly a coin that gets honorable mention where fullness of the obverse is concerned. Scarce (PCGS # 3948) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,553
Lot 1210		1923 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-63. Well struck, lustrous and lightly toned. Choice (PCGS # 3949) . Estimated Value $100 - 130. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $204
Lot 1211		1923-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-63. Intensely lustrous. Soft on the reverse as often found, likely from a worn die rather than insufficient strike pressure since the obverse is finely detailed. Lightly toned and beautiful (PCGS # 3950) . Estimated Value $700 - 800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $810
Lot 1212		1924 Buffalo Nickel. NGC graded MS-65. A well struck frosty mint gem. Blazing luster on satiny nickel gray surfaces. A touch of weakness all but absent at the high points of the design such as the bison's shoulder on the reverse, fortunate indeed for the buyer of this coin that the dies were spaced just right to impart bold details everywhere. Pop 82; 31 finer; 29 in 66; 2 in 67. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $690
Lot 1213		1924 Buffalo Nickel. NGC graded MS-64. Delicate golden toning enhances the beauty of the luster. Estimated Value $300 - 350. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $325
Lot 1214		1924-D Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. Delicate pastel toning. A lustrous specimen with a grand display of bright angles when the iridescence on both sides is tipped into the light. Nicely struck, perhaps not fully so at the bison's head, but for 1924-D, still well enough that its charm is enhanced immeasurably (PCGS # 3952) . Estimated Value $1,100 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,500
Lot 1215		1924-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-63. Old green holder. Nice bold obverse. A few tiny marks at the cheek. Weakly struck reverse. The delicate golden luster more than makes up for this and we feel the proud new owner will be able to spend many hours studying this coin's alluring qualities. How much would a buffalo nickel buy "way back when"? According to the Motion Picture Association of America, the average movie ticket price in 1924 was 25 cents, and by 1929 this average price had risen to 35 cents. But during The Great Depression ticket prices came back down and by 1935 they had dropped to an average of 24 cents. It wasn't until 1965 that the average movie ticket price rose above a dollar (PCGS # 3953) . Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,080
Lot 1216		1925 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-65. Old green label. Well struck. Lustrous and untoned. A gem (PCGS # 3954) . Estimated Value $400 - 475. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $633
Lot 1217		1925 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-65. Old green holder. A small nick on the cheek. Nicely struck and lustrous throughout, nickel-gray patina with no distracting carbon spots present (PCGS # 3954) . Estimated Value $400 - 475. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $489
Lot 1218		1925-D Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck and satiny. Pastel toning. Although uniformly frosted, the fields are slightly brighter than the devices on both sides. The smooth iridescence is noted throughout, but the overall appearance is one of such originality and beauty that bidders would be advised to expect a strong price realized (PCGS # 3955) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,620
Lot 1219		1925-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. An intensely lustrous example. Likely a typical strike from worn dies, judging from the details. The surfaces are satin nickel-silver and glow underneath the toning. Struck with not quite the required mathematical precision by the dies, which isn't unusual for 1925-S, some areas are incomplete by an unsuccessful strike left following the rebound of the dies. Spot-free with gorgeous light golden toning (PCGS # 3956) . Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,080
Lot 1220		1925-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. Although not a strong strike, a much better than average coin with a full horn visable. Pleasantly spot-free in the fields. The possibly worn dies left their partly rigid impression behind with some modest weakness or imprecision only at the Indian's head and on portions of the buffalo. Scarce, nevertheless. Lustrous with light golden toning (PCGS # 3956) . Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1221		1925-S Buffalo Nickel. NGC graded MS-62. Steel blue toning. Without doubt the most visually pleasing feature of this coin is its soft, muted mint luster. Nice clean, spot-free luster on both sides, in fact. Estimated Value $800 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $863
Lot 1222		1926-D Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. Toned. Normal detail on the buffalo, some 1926-D nickels were struck from worn dies (PCGS # 3958) . Estimated Value $1,300 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,620
Lot 1223		1926-S Buffalo Nickel. ICG graded MS-62. An adequately struck example for this challenging issue. Golden sunset toning with additional rings of color on both sides. Well detailed for this more difficult S-mint date, a low mintage year when only 970,000 were struck. The surface glows with soft golden highlights that add considerably to the appeal of this lovely spot-free piece. We agree with the given grade. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,600
Lot 1224		1927 Buffalo Nickel. NGC graded MS-65. Well struck. Lovely pastel toning. Has a few light surface contact marks. Estimated Value $225 - 275. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $312
Lot 1225		1927 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. Old green holder. A glistening beauty and close to gem standards (PCGS # 3960) . Estimated Value $60 - 70. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $115
Lot 1226		1927-D Buffalo Nickel. NGC graded MS-64. Old holder. A trifle soft. Not quite fully struck, apparently from worn dies, with just a narrow region of weakness found on the portrait as well as on the head and lower shoulder of the bison. Lovely delicate multi-color hues. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1227		1927-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck and very choice. Spot free and untoned. A nice display of nickel-fresh tint radiates from this lustrous '27-S. An avowedly better struck example than usual, it has excellent definition to all the important high points. Where sometimes a cataloger's description may see the addition of "with the possible exception of these regions (standard for the issue)", we are thrilled to say that no such caveat is required here. (A few tiny marks on the buffalo's foreleg, and one other mark below STATES possibly accounts for the MS64 grade and not one of MS65.) (PCGS # 3962) . Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,040
Lot 1228		1927-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-63. Very well struck and fully lustrous. Unotned. Gleaming, satiny luster and choice detail, the surfaces are unspotted. Keen-edged devices throughout, including the Indian's profile and his hair and braid. The reverse, too, shows exceptional detail for this often weakly struck date. Almost a rarity in this condition (PCGS # 3962) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,415
Lot 1229		1928 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. Old green label. Light steel blue luster throughout (PCGS # 3963) . Estimated Value $100 - 140. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $173
Lot 1230		1928-D Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-65. Nice vivid light toning. Pop 275; 29 finer in 66. (PCGS # 3964) . Estimated Value $750 - 800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $805
Lot 1231		1928-D Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. Old green holder. Intensely lustrous, lightly toned (PCGS # 3964) . Estimated Value $200 - 250. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $253
Lot 1232		1928-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. Old green holder. Intensely lustrous. Rich golden luster. Soft satin-like fields careen with lustrous color (PCGS # 3965) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,208
Lot 1233		1929 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. Old green holder. Fully lustrous. Nice, convincing strike for most areas with only a small amount of softness on the centers such as the hair braid and the shoulder on the buffalo or bison (pick your terminology, but avoid using "beefalo" or some purists will nag you).* (PCGS # 3966) . *Yes, Nelly, there is such a critter. "Beefalo" are a cross between Bison (American Buffalo) and domestic cattle. This produces meat very low in fat and cholesterol. There is even an official looking beefalo website! http://www.ababeefalo.org/. Estimated Value $80 - 110. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $150
Lot 1234		1929-D Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. Well struck and untoned. Clean as a whistle, as one would expect from the grade; however, what really sets this coin apart from others is its choice cartwheel luster that sashays around each side (PCGS # 3967) . Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $661
Lot 1235		1929-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-66. Well struck with nice even toning. Pop 140; 5 finer in 67. (PCGS # 3968) . Estimated Value $1,100 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,260
Lot 1236		1929-S Buffalo Nickel. NGC graded MS-65. Well struck. Lightly toned. The otherwise satiny silver luster deepens to heavy frostiness in a few areas of the portrait and back of the neck from stronger metal flow. A gem! Estimated Value $400 - 475. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $403
Lot 1237		1930 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-65. Old green holder. Well struck. Bright and lustrous: Ice-cold nickel-pure color covers the fields of this handsome coin (PCGS # 3969) . Estimated Value $180 - 210. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $312
Lot 1238		1930-S Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-64. Old green holder. Lovely light pastel toning somewhat blue in areas. Close to gem quality original luster with crisp definition and exceptionally clean surfaces create the perfect environment for the devoted collector of buffalo nickels. Definitely, a premium example of the grade (PCGS # 3970) . Estimated Value $200 - 250. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $230
Lot 1239		1931-S Buffalo Nickel. ANACS graded MS-65. A gem example of this popular issue. The mints had by 1931 reduced coinage production to crisis levels, with only San Francisco striking nickel five-cent pieces. No nickels would be minted in either 1932 or 1933 (PCGS # 3971) . Estimated Value $225 - 250. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $324
Lot 1240		1935 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-67. Lovely even toning. Pop 92; none finer. (PCGS # 3974) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,500
Lot 1241		1935-D Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-66. Well struck with even natural toning. Struck with systematic exactness throughout; on most 1935-D nickels the central part of the reverse is where a somewhat rounded impression was usually left by the dies. This handsome coin, deserving its illustrious MS66 grade, provides full sharp detail in all the key areas. Pop 130; 5 in MS67. (PCGS # 3975) . Estimated Value $950 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1242		1937 Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded Proof 66. Old green holder. Wonderful rainbow toning on both sides. While Mint State examples are always available through the high-end Gem level, Gem Proofs are surprisingly elusive. Any with color can and do command multiples of the brilliant Proofs. This is a lovely patinated survivor that is destined for a museum-quality set of Buffalo nickels or we miss our guess. A beauty! 5,769 Proofs struck (PCGS # 3996) . Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,530
Lot 1243		1937-D Buffalo Nickel. NGC graded MS-67. Lovely toning atop blazing fresh luster. A jewel! Pop 63; 16 finer. Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,190
Lot 1244		1937-D Buffalo Nickel. 3 legs. NGC graded MS-66. Housed in NGC holder 1295956-010. Untoned gem. While auctions typically list a reasonable number of circulated, and even a few lower-end Mint State 1937-D 3-Legged nickels each month in the United States, seldom do collectors get the opportunity presented to them to acquire a first-rate Gem. With full, soft-frosted luster and no distracting spots or marks to affect its originality, this is just such a specimen. Both sides are coated in pale golden-gray nickel iridescence that enhances already superb beauty of the piece. The strike, unlike far too many, is most pleasing: bold throughout the key features including all but the shoulder of the bison's body on the reverse. The visual impact given is strong for the Mint State 66 grade. There is no doubt that this is a remarkable coin. A coin that would serve as a showpiece in any specialized buffalo nickel collection. Identifiable by a tiny diagonal mark on the buffalo's foreleg. Pop 15; 1 better in 67 Star. This die-polishing variety was the first of its kind to attract the attention of collectors. Discovered soon after its issue, 1937-D 3-leg nickels were advertised for sale in an ad in The Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine as early as 1937-38. It is believed that a fair number surfaced in the Montana region. The variety was caused by excessive polishing of the dies to remove clash marks. Die clash occurs when the feeder mechanism of a coin press fails to deliver a planchet, the dies strike one another, and each receives an impression of the opposing die. This disfigurement, when discovered, usually results in the replacement of both dies. In the case of the 1937-D 3-leg nickel, however, the urgency of completing a coinage run precluded this customary practice, and a swifter solution was sought. Very few Uncirculated examples are known, coin collectors being equally scarce in that part of the country, it seems. (For a more detailed account of this popular variety, see David W. Lange's The Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels.). Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $40,800
Lot 1245		1937-D Buffalo Nickel. 3 legs. . FS-020.2. NGC graded MS-64. Delicate pastel toning. A blazing fresh near-gem with choice luster and grand eye appeal. A hint of weakness at the rim dentils as typically seen, but everyplace else the design is full, including the string of 13 pearls along the edge of the coronet in Liberty's hear. Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1246		1937-D Buffalo Nickel. 3 legs. PCGS graded MS-62. Well struck. Lightly toned with some light marks on the face and hair of the Indian. Strong luster flows in the face and around the rims are typical of the 3-legged Mint States. These were struck using pretty worn dies and not new dies which would have imparted more evenly flowing surface luster and color. A popular semi-key date, much talked about in the collector community (PCGS # 3982) . Estimated Value $2,700 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,990
Lot 1247		1937-D Buffalo Nickel. 3 legs. PCGS graded MS-62. Lightly toned. A very attractive Mint State with original toned nickel-gray surfaces that show considerable luster out atop the hard-working surfaces beneath. Some weak spots in strike is seen as usual. These 3-legged nickels were struck from well-used, repolished dies, after all. Pop 266; 413 better. (PCGS # 3982) . Estimated Value $2,700 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,220
Lot 1248		1937-D Buffalo Nickel. 3 legs. EF-45. Popular error variety in which the mint inadvertantly ground off the foreleg of the buffalo when it sought to remove some die clash marks. The rest, as they say, is history. Estimated Value $900 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $776
Lot 1249		1938-D Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded each MS-65. Lot of 2 coins (PCGS # 3984) . Estimated Value $100 - 120. Ex Dr. Hesselgesser. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $192
Lot 1250		1938-D Buffalo Nickel. PCGS graded MS-66. Well struck gem with bold devices, swirling luster effects, and outstanding roll-fresh appearance (PCGS # 3984) . Estimated Value $80 - 100. Ex. Dr. Hesselgesser. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $132
Lot 1251		Complete Short Set of Brilliant Uncirculated Buffalo Nickels, 1934-1938-D. Lacking only 1937 and 1937-D. Consists of: 1934 PCGS MS-64, 1934-D PCGS MS-62, 1935 PCGS MS-65, 1935-D PCGS MS-64, 1935-S NGC MS-65, 1936 PCGS MS-66, 1936-D PCGS MS-65, 1936-S PCGS MS-65, 1937-S PCGS MS-65, 1938-D NGC MS-67. Many in old green label holders. Lot of 10 coins. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,200. View details	Realized $1,265

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