1938 D D D S Buffalo Nickel

[Paddy54]

One of my favorite buffalo's to hunt is the 1938 D. As a kid in the 1960's I can confess to a many an ice cream or pack of baseball cards were purchased with a buffalo or war nickel . An most were the 38 D as back then they were pretty much the date you got in change or a dateless buffalo.
Then I realized that the short set 34 through 38 offered a lot of hunting grounds!
You know plenty of doubled dies rpd rpm,and omm's.
At one point I had a complete set of the 38 D varieties .
which now brings me to this specimen... still waiting to receive it ...but to my eye and knowledge of the 38 D ....well what's your eye's say?

Anything about split serifs ? How about a very mis placed S. That hides under a triple repunched D? 243493-01-01.jpeg
NGC MS 66 243493_2_-02~2-01.jpeg 20241117_224539-01.jpeg

[Paddy54]

20241117_224539-01.jpeg 20241117_224539-01.jpeg MMS-002aa.jpg Now notice this mint mark style it was used durring the late 1930's as the mm for San Francisco dies. Also notice the die chip in the top loop.... and its location.
look familiar? [ BTW I've matched it to the reverse and date used.] In the late 30's just haven't posted that information yet.
now let's examine the lathe lines though < America > as well the doubled tail...
the obv. Feather seems to show abrasion as well recut.
another clue that dies were reused...especially when the new series the Jefferson nickel series was about to be released. Die's that were destined for San Francisco sent to Denver reworked re punched and minted coins. Some with the "S" in plain sight.

what say ye??? Of course not able to examine the coin for another week.... but hopeful of an early xmas gift from the coin gods ! Or a major Bingo...fingers crossed.

[Paddy54]

Oh also for You crack heads... yup plenty running on the obv. Some quite large. And as a post scrip I've never seen a 38 D like this one! In the years I've been staring at coins.
my take so many rolls and bags for decades sat.....some of us dino's became extinct....and our collections set loose again.
Oh lastly below the 9 in the date .... wanta bet that's an "F" next to the rim well the top of one.
and perhaps offering more varieties to hunt.

I only wish an good friend was here still to get his take on this one... Ron Pope you're surely missed.
you taught us well...