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1927 Special Strike
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | NIFC (Not Intended for Circulation) |
| Mintage | Special Strike; mintage unknown |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 75% Copper, 25% Nickel |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James Earle Fraser |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-1304 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
The 1927 Special Strike Buffalo nickel is one of the more obscure pieces in the Buffalo series, reportedly a specially prepared example from the Philadelphia Mint distinct from both regular proofs and circulation strikes. No proofs of any denomination were officially struck in 1927, and the Special Strike designation refers to coins that show superior strike quality and preservation characteristics without meeting the technical definition of proof coinage. These may have been prepared for VIP presentation or for specific Mint display purposes.
Very few examples are known, and the category's definitional boundaries have been debated by specialists. Some graders treat Special Strike coins as equivalent to proofs, while others classify them as exceptionally well-struck circulation pieces. PCGS and NGC have designated a small number of 1927 nickels as Special Strike, and these examples command significant premiums over both ordinary circulation strikes and standard Mint State coins.
For most collectors, the 1927 Special Strike is a curiosity. Advanced specialists building comprehensive Buffalo nickel collections with all known variants may pursue a certified Special Strike example, while most date collectors treat the 1927 Philadelphia circulation strike as the standard representative for the year. The Special Strike category illustrates the ongoing research and classification work that continues to refine Buffalo nickel specialist collecting decades after the series ended.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | — | — |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | — | — |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | — | — |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | — | — |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | — | — |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | — | — |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
What is a 1927 Special Strike Buffalo Nickel made of?
What is the melt value of a 1927 Special Strike Buffalo Nickel?
Is the 1927 Special Strike Buffalo Nickel a key date?
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