1936-D Buffalo Nickel 2 Feather? 0

[Kevine84]

Hello all

If I had a nickel....

Is it possible this is a 2 feather variety?

That deep in the coin face and seemingly unworn  I find it hard to think it is wear?

Thanks for the eyes on this I truly appreciate it.

 

Kevin

 

[Coinbuf]

I'm not that familiar with 2 feather varieties but I can clearly see the third feather.   Having said that I have seen coins called 2 feather when the third is visible if the correct markers are there.

[Kevine84]

The error data I referenced online did not include any coins past 1930 for this error.

If I am missing a reference/resource that might be there online would you have a place you would tell me to look before asking?

[Jason Abshier]

On 9/4/2021 at 4:35 PM, Coinbuf said:

I'm not that familiar with 2 feather varieties but I can clearly see the third feather.   Having said that I have seen coins called 2 feather when the third is visible if the correct markers are there.

I’ve seen same thing you were talking about, I asked onetime I saw 3rd feather they said it was “faint 3rd feather” but therefore it’s still called a 2 feather.

Another collector who collects buffalos told me there are only if I remember 16-18 years that are “truly known 2 feather variety”

kinda confusing 

[Woods020]

I don’t believe there are recognized two feathers this late in the series. Here is the list of known two feathers, of which 19 are considered true two feather and the others partial (although all of these in the list below are attributed by TPGs)

• 1913-D Type I 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1913-S Type I 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1915 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1915-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1916 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1917 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1917-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1917-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1918 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1918-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1919 2 Feathers
• 1919-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1919-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1920 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1920-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1920-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1921 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1921-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1923 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1925-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1925-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1926-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1927-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1927-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1928-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1929-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1930-S 2 Feathers FS-401

[JAnsley]

On 9/4/2021 at 3:35 PM, Coinbuf said:

I'm not that familiar with 2 feather varieties but I can clearly see the third feather.   Having said that I have seen coins called 2 feather when the third is visible if the correct markers are there.

Coinbuf where is the third feather you see? Ive never heard of this 2 feather variety and ive got a '36 that's AU/MS id guess. Anyhow it looks exactly like this one as does another im looking at from 29.

[JAnsley]

Nvm @coinbuf i done some research. The three feathers in normal and the two feather is really only two feathers the obvious small and large ones. Now i understand

[Coinbuf]

On 9/4/2021 at 7:59 PM, JAnsley said:

Nvm @coinbuf i done some research. The three feathers in normal and the two feather is really only two feathers the obvious small and large ones. Now i understand

I have used the op photo to show the three feathers.   My understanding is that in some years and with some dies when the dies were lapped to remove die clashes the small third feather detail would be lost and thus you would only see two feathers.   This is not a big thing for me but there are some collectors that have begun to collect these and were able to get the TPG's to call these varieties.   Because these are not something that I collect or look for I do not know all the PUP's (pick up points) used to identify the known/recognized varieties, as I said some two feather varieties will still have some of the third feather visible but can be attributed as a two feather from the PUPs. 

[JAnsley]

On 9/4/2021 at 10:15 PM, Coinbuf said:

I have used the op photo to show the three feathers.   My understanding is that in some years and with some dies when the dies were lapped to remove die clashes the small third feather detail would be lost and thus you would only see two feathers.   This is not a big thing for me but there are some collectors that have begun to collect these and were able to get the TPG's to call these varieties.   Because these are not something that I collect or look for I do not know all the PUP's (pick up points) used to identify the known/recognized varieties, as I said some two feather varieties will still have some of the third feather visible but can be attributed as a two feather from the PUPs. 

Thank you and untill today i wasnt aware of the third feather. I always thought it to be part of his (indian) braid on the other side of his head. Guess now i know its a feather and that if its missing then i have a variety that some one may be looking for. Glad to have seen this post and thank you for explaining it to me.

[Rummy13]

On 9/4/2021 at 11:15 PM, Coinbuf said:

I have used the op photo to show the three feathers.   My understanding is that in some years and with some dies when the dies were lapped to remove die clashes the small third feather detail would be lost and thus you would only see two feathers.   This is not a big thing for me but there are some collectors that have begun to collect these and were able to get the TPG's to call these varieties.   Because these are not something that I collect or look for I do not know all the PUP's (pick up points) used to identify the known/recognized varieties, as I said some two feather varieties will still have some of the third feather visible but can be attributed as a two feather from the PUPs. 

Another learning lesson for me. Thank you again @Coinbuf.

[DWLange]

NGC will label as "2 FEATHERS" only those nickels that have no trace of the shallow, third feather. Here are some examples:

https://www.ngccoin.com/variety-plus/united-states/nickels/buffalo-five-cents-1913-1938/?page=1

[Kevine84]

On 9/4/2021 at 5:03 PM, Woods020 said:

I don’t believe there are recognized two feathers this late in the series. Here is the list of known two feathers, of which 19 are considered true two feather and the others partial (although all of these in the list below are attributed by TPGs)

• 1913-D Type I 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1913-S Type I 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1915 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1915-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1916 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1917 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1917-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1917-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1918 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1918-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1919 2 Feathers
• 1919-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1919-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1920 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1920-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1920-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1921 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1921-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1923 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1925-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1925-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1926-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1927-D 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1927-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1928-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1929-S 2 Feathers FS-401
• 1930-S 2 Feathers FS-401

Yes this was what I found.

So I cant find other 36-d examples like this online either

Where does that get me?  Is this just a common?  really?

 

 

[Coinbuf]

The upshot of all this is that you have a normal coin not a 2 feather variety. 

[Woods020]

On 9/5/2021 at 3:41 PM, Kevine84 said:

Yes this was what I found.

So I cant find other 36-d examples like this online either

Where does that get me?  Is this just a common?  really?

 

 

I think it’s just a worn die that is starting to lose some of the design elements. It could have been die polishing, but as @Coinbufand DWLange have pointed out unless it is completely absent it’s just a common part of the minting process. Over time dies wear, get polished, etc. and only certain outcomes of that are noteworthy. Here is isn’t. Good learning tool to see how elements can get faint and/or lost through the life of the die. 

[Kevine84]

Yes.  Thanks to all I am learning my coins are not unique.  I checking another one though... 

[Lem E]

On 9/5/2021 at 5:26 PM, Kevine84 said:

Yes.  Thanks to all I am learning my coins are not unique.  I checking another one though... 

This may be of interest to you.