1916 Buffalo Nickel

The booming economy of the World War I years prompted very high mintages of minor coins starting in 1916, and this date is readily available in all grades up to the gem level. The strike quality of this issue varies greatly, with a small number of very sharp pieces amid mostly coins struck from dies that were moderately to heavily worn.

The specimen illustrated is typical of many Buffalo Nickels in that it was coined from dies of different generations. Its obverse die is clearly worn and has noticeable erosion lines, yet its reverse die is quite obviously fresh, with a hard, smooth surface. This phenomenon occurred whenver one die failed before its mate and had to be replaced. Die clashing was the usual culprit, one die of the pair being irrepairable.

The obverse hub was refined for the nickel coinage of 1916 and later years. The most obvious improvement was sharpening of the motto LIBERTY, which was rather indistinct on Fraser's models and the all coins struck 1913-15.