New Member and VERY amateur w/question

[Guest]

Thanks to those involved in creating this forum and thanks to those individuals who are so helpful.

I never "intended" to become involved in coins, my hobby of preference being photography.

However in finding some coins a month ago, Image link after my Mothers death several years ago, I have been attempting to learn as much as possible.

The coins are well worn to some reasonably decent. It seems like many take on a beauty even displayed in something as simple as a 2x2.

I can assume that the Denver mint had some serious quality control issues in making the 1937 Buffalo nickel, having found 3 to some degree "ghosting" for lack of a better word which may well be machine doubling.

The attachment links to a picture of one obverse which seems quite radical to me (note face front as well as date). Could someone briefly explain how both elements would be so affected? I have seen date doubling and mint mark doubling, but.....

Thanks

Les

[GP_]

cool nickel! and a great pic! (of course, being as your a photographer, that would make sense) I know nothing about buffalos, so hopefully someone with some knowledge will chime in soon! But sure looks nice to me

[Guest]

Actually, I didn't photograph it. It is a scan. Quicker than a camera shot, but I really need to learn the camera aspect of it as to proper lighting.

Les

[Chippewa]

It looks to me like every device on the front of the coin is doubled. Not being a technical coin expert and even less of a Buffalo expert I do not know how common this is. Welcome in any event. For inanimate objects, these coins can be pretty addictive. I used to say that I only would collect pre-civil war coins because of the connection with the history of the country. Then I started getting into 1892-1900's commemoratives. Spend your buffalo the next time you go to the corner store. Otherwise you might never recover.

 

Welcome.

[coinman1794]

This looks, to me, like machine doubling, which is when the die bounces after striking the coin and produces a doubled image.

[Klectorkid]

Good pic and welcome!

[nwcs]

Welcome! Sounds like you're making a lot of headway in your knowledge about coins. Since your main interest is in photography, maybe you can find ways to learn about coins and photography by taking pics of coins.

 

As for your image, it is a machine doubled coin. The upper striking die appears to have slipped a little when striking which sheared the metal just a bit and created this doubled image. It's considered damage and not a mint error, but shouldn't get rejected by a grading company. Some people, like me, think it's still pretty neat to have. Just no value premium.

 

And, yes, many of the buffalo nickels suffered from poor strikes and such. But that wasn't responsible for this doubling.

 

Neil

[Hoot]

I'd agree with Neil and others about the machine doubling. The rather radical example you provide, however, may garner a few dollars (10-15) from an avid buff collector, as it's about the worst I've ever seen (and I have a nice example of a machine doubled 37)! Pretty fun to find such a beastie.

 

Just FYI, Wexler describes an example of a distended hub doubled 1937 nickel. It's not nearly as dramatic as the coin that you have!

 

Hoot

[braddick]

Welcome! Usually it's the Coin Collector that takes up the interest in Digital Coin Photography. It's neat to see it the other way around with you.

 

When you have a minute or two- share with us some of your "secrets" and technics for successful coin photography.

[prooflike]

Welcome and that is an excellent example of machine doubling. Keep it!