1918-D, 8 over 7. PCGS graded VF-20 PQ. CAC Approved. Very popular variety. Missing from most collections. Lightly toned and choice. The 1918/7-D overdate without doubt matches the famous 1916/1916 and 1937-D 3-leg nickels for the title of most popular and highly sought variety in the series. Though discovered as long ago as 1931, it remains scarce to this day.
The obverse die for this variety was made during the latter part of 1917 at the Philadelphia Mint. It is during the final quarter of each year that the Mints engraving department begins to make dies for the next years production. As described in David W. Langes book on the Buffalo Nickel series, "a nationwide shortage of minor coins (cents and nickels) developed during 1917-18 and led to an unprecedented output of these. It is therefore easy to understand that dies for both 1917 and 1918 would have been in preparation during the latter months of 1917 to meet both current and anticipated needs.
"In sinking a working die, two or more impressions had to be taken from a working hub. Between each impression, the developing die was taken to the furnace to be annealed, or softened, since the first impression caused the metal to become work-hardened. It was then ready for another impression. Amid the haste to produce new dies, a working die that had already been impressed with a hub dated 1917 was then either inadvertently or intentionally given another impression from a hub dated 1918. The result was an overdate."
(PCGS # 3939) .
Estimated Value $3,800 - 4,000.
Buffalo Nickels
