1917 S Buffalo Nickel

As with 1915-S nickels, a relatively small number of coins may be found that are extremely well struck. Again, it has been suggested that these were coined from proof dies. More likely is that the dies were simply unworn and closely set within the press, the ideal situation for any coining operation but one that was seldom maintained with respect to Buffalo Nickels. Most examples of this date have strong central details but weak peripheral elements. This is enhanced by the prevalence of erosion in the die along the inner border, as described for 1916-S.

As the typical 1917-S nickel is poorly struck from worn dies, its luster will alternate between the bright, metallic sheen associated with uncompressed planchets and the frosty, textured quality of worn die steel. This date and others that are typically not well struck sometimes have an overall texture that calls to mind the appearance of liquid mercury. Again, this is simply the natural quality of the polished planchet when it is not fully compressed by the dies.

Very few collectors have noticed the “Lettered Chin” or “Blanked Die” Buffalo Nickels minted at the San Francisco and Philadelphia Mints. On these nickels some of the letters of PLURIBUS appear on the obverse of the coin under the chin of the Indian. The lettering is Upside-down and in reverse, and is exactly opposite the Pluribus on the reverse of the coin. Only the first one to five letters of the Pluribus appear. Some of these coins are so well struck that this lettering can be easily seen and read without the use of a magnifying glass. A letter dated February 12th, 1944, from the Superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint, advises as follows: – “This coin apparently was struck from a ‘Blanked’ pair of dies, the dies having touched without a planchet between, leaving an impression of a portion of the reverse die on the highest point of the obverse die.”

Reader Barton went on to list the various dates known by him to have lettered chins, or “chin whiskers,” as they’ve also been called: 1913-S Type 1, 1913-S Type 2, 1914, 1914-S, 1916-S, 1917-S, 1918-S, 1919-S, 1920, 1920-S, 1921, 1923-S, 1924-S, 1925-S, 1927-S, 1928-S and 1929-S. Other dates may also turn up with this common feature.

Now known in the numismatic field as clash marks, these inverted impressions of opposing dies are commonly seen on many dates within the Buffalo Nickel series. A corresponding flattening of the legend E PLURIBUS UNUM typically accompanies the lettered chin on clashed die pairs, as this portion of the reverse die was simultaneously damaged by the Indian’s chin and neck. Such coins carry no premium, though the two-feather varieties that sometimes occurred from attempts to remove clash marks are popular with collectors.

Varieties:

• A two-feathers variety exists for this date (FS-1917S-401). The die polishing that led to this distinctive variety was likely prompted by an attempt to remove clash marks.
• A new S mintmark punch was introduced early in this year, and examples may be found with either the old (1913-17) or new (1917-37) mintmarks. Their relative rarity remains unstudied, but collectors don’t seem to care about these varieties.