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1926-S 5C MS64 PCGS. The 1926-S has long been hailed a 1926-S[5C] MS64 PCGS.

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1926-S 5C MS64 PCGS. The 1926-S has long been hailed a 1926-S[5C] MS64 PCGS.
<B>1926-S<5C> MS64 PCGS.</B></I> The 1926-S has long been hailed as the key (excluding varieties such as the 1918/7-D) to the Buffalo nickel series, with the lowest mintage at 970,000 coins. Perhaps less well recognized is that in MS64 and MS65 grades, the population of certified coins is considerably smaller than such rarities as the 1918-S, 1919-S, and 1921-S. As of this writing, PCGS has certified 114 examples of the '26-S in MS64 and 10 finer, compared with 157/27 of the '18-S, 152/27 of the '19-S, and 179/58 of the '21-S (1/06). Only the 1924-S, with MS64/65 PCGS-certified populations of 126/33, approaches the elite level of survivors of the 1926-S. Another interesting note is that, while all of the aforementioned dates have at least one example certified by PCGS as MS66, <B>PCGS has never certified a 1926-S Buffalo nickel higher than MS65.</B></I> The NGC populations of these coins are similar, although a lone MS66 specimen of the '26-S has been certified at that service.<BR> The rarity of near-Gem and Gem survivors is largely due to the worn reverse dies that are the norm for this issue. While this example does show a bit of die wear, the strike is sufficiently bold that there is only slight weakness on the bison's highpoint hair--and there is even a hint of a split tail. The horn is bold and pointed, and the lower-relief hair is extremely well detailed. On the obverse there is local weakness on the upper braid, the knot, and the hair just above. The surfaces are lustrous, with original nickel-gray color and just a hint of a transparent blue overlay. Even under a loupe, only a couple of trivial ticks on the Indian are noted, scarcely worthy of mention. The overall impression this coin provides is one that is accurately graded, but one that is certainly at the high end of the available survivors, and considerably finer than normally seen for this rare and in-demand issue. Opportunity knocks loudly here.