Error coin?

[jhamner]

I found this old Buffalo in an old coin collection I bought. I think it might be some sort of error but not sure. The extra material on the obverse is a blob of extra nickel, not solder or some other material. If you examine the "blob" under magnification, there are several letters impressed in it. I would like to know from the experts what this is, and if an error, what the value might be. Wish the coin was in better shape! Thanks!

 

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[Coinstar magnet]

It is certainly unique, was there a date on it. I've heard the dateless ones are not valuable.... I'm sure someone will be able to give you a better answer...

 

[jhamner]

It is certainly unique, was there a date on it. I've heard the dateless ones are not valuable.... I'm sure someone will be able to give you a better answer...

Thank you! There is a partial date but it has been obliterated by the extra nickel material. I think it was originally 1930, but not certain.

 

[l.cutler]

Pretty odd alright, but there is just no way in the minting process for that to have happened. The minting procedure is a pretty straightforward, manufacturing process, with all steps well known and documented. It has to be something that happened after. Could be a harder material than solder, silver solder perhaps, somehow another metal has melted onto it.

 

[ARC]

You can clearly see the other "LIBERTY" smashed into the coin.

I am going with VERY possible error.

 

[jeff of pa]

Because of what looks like an attempt to Carve a man (zeus ?) looking straight ahead & Jeering. Or liberty Woman looking down towards her bent knee in it, (his teeth/her Eyelid) I almost thought Hobo Nickel.

but the misplaced letters and numbers , spell Liberty So my Guess she is Liberty (Maybe Depicted Broken), I'm wondering if it's simply an attempt to make a unique error, by someone.

it does not look like coins were pressed together. the letters are not in reverse or inward.

at certain Lines it does look like it could be Soldered or pasted on

and the Whole Right side due to the Shadows looks suspect.
But I must be Honest without holding it to Examine closely.
I'm thinking the Nickel was Carved out & The Suspect Piece added on. date is hard to say. it appears too large, too high, and too far to the left
to me.

just opinions. cool find, all the same

 

[jhamner]

Pretty odd alright, but there is just no way in the minting process for that to have happened. The minting procedure is a pretty straightforward, manufacturing process, with all steps well known and documented. It has to be something that happened after. Could be a harder material than solder, silver solder perhaps, somehow another metal has melted onto it.

Thanks for your input. It does seem like there's no way the mint did this.

 

[jhamner]

You can clearly see the other "LIBERTY" smashed into the coin.

I am going with VERY possible error.

Thank you very much. I'm hoping you're right, but with the poor condition of the coin-if it IS an error-probably not worth much.

 

[jhamner]

Because of what looks like an attempt to Carve a man (zeus ?) looking straight ahead & Jeering. Or Fugly (liberty) Woman looking down towards her bent knee in it, I almost thought Hobo Nickel.

View attachment 2011377

but the misplaced letters and numbers , spell Liberty So my Guess she is Liberty (Maybe Depicted Broken), I'm wondering if it's simply an attempt to make a unique error, by someone.

it does not look like coins were pressed together. the letters are not in reverse or inward.

at certain Lines it does look like it could be Soldered or pasted on

View attachment 2011381

and the Whole Right side due to the Shadows looks suspect.
But I must be Honest without holding it to Examine closely.
I'm thinking the Nickel was Carved out & The Suspect Piece added on. date is hard to say. it appears too large, too high, and too far to the left
to me.
View attachment 2011383
View attachment 2011382

just opinions. cool find, all the same

Thank you very much for your insights. It seems as though all you point out is a possibility. I just don't know what happened to the thing!

 

[jeff of pa]

Thank you very much for your insights. It seems as though all you point out is a possibility. I just don't know what happened to the thing!

if you look at the Broken Liberty letters size & style .
The die that Made the Nickel could not have made those Letters

 

[jeff of pa]

last thought Some of those Early Hobos were Very Artistic. That I Can't rule out

 

[jhamner]

last thought Some of those Early Hobos were Very Artistic. That I Can't rule out

Definite possibility! Weird whatever it is!

 

[jhamner]

if you look at the Broken Liberty letters size & style .
The die that Made the Nickel could not have made those Letters

You're right!

 

[cudamark]

Looks like someone melted pieces of a mercury dime or standing liberty quarter onto it. Can you acid test the "added" parts to see if they're silver?

 

[jhamner]

Looks like someone melted pieces of a mercury dime or standing liberty quarter onto it. Can you acid test the "added" parts to see if they're silver?

I use 18k test solution for silver which turns to a milky white precipitate in silver's presence. I made a light rub on the added part so as not to damage it (much) and it immediately dissolved in the acid. I then rubbed the edge of another old Buffalo and applied acid and the results were identical-immediate dissolution of the material, leaving only the clear acid on the stone. Not sure what this proves other than I don't believe there's any silver present.
Great theory though! Thanks for your idea to test for silver!

 

[TenEightyOne]

Pretty odd alright, but there is just no way in the minting process for that to have happened. The minting procedure is a pretty straightforward, manufacturing process, with all steps well known and documented. It has to be something that happened after. Could be a harder material than solder, silver solder perhaps, somehow another metal has melted onto it.

I'd agree, but then I'd add that malformed coins are a hallmark of counterfeiting attempts in every era.

 

[ARC]

Buffalo Nickel Error? - Coin Community Forum

Buffalo Nickel Error? - Coin Community Forum

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[ARC]

 

[jhamner]

Very interesting--thank you very much for sharing!

 

[smokeythecat]

I think it's a pretty large "cud". Where when stamping the coins a blob of metal splits off another planchet and gets "stuck" to another coin. It's a nice find.