1937 Buffalo Nickel. Proof-68 (PCGS).The 1937 is the final Proof Buffalo nickel and is immensely popular and eagerly sought at all levels of preservation. Vibrant golden color with hints of iridescent azure and magenta adorn the mirror proof surfaces of this stellar, virtually flawless specimen. The fields are so smooth that they resemble a still pool of water in both texture and reflectivity. It goes without saying that the strike is razor sharp; these expertly produced 1936 and 1937 proofs are in an entirely different league with regards to design detail than any other Buffalo nickels released. A guaranteed highlight to any collection, the eye appeal of this masterpiece is impeccable.The 1937 is the second of only two Proof issues from the later Buffalo nickel series. Prior to 1936, the Mint had not struck any Proofs of this type since 1916, and when coinage resumed the first examples were of a satin finish, which accounted for approximately two thirds of the total mintage of 4,420 pieces for the year. Improvements in the process for coining Proofs at the Mint resulted in the uniformly brilliant pieces that comprised the final third of the Proof 1936 delivery, as well as all 5,769 specimens coined in 1937. The latter issue is the most readily obtainable Proof Buffalo nickel in todays market, and the overall high quality of surviving examples adds to its popularity among type collectors. The extant population of truly stellar examples, as here, is extremely limited, however, and with such demand, competition among bidders is always fierce when one appears at auction. Strong bids are certainly called for here.
