1913 S Type 2 Buffalo Acid Treated?

Thanks all. You have added to my knowledge of what could cause this condition. I was never interested in bidding on this coin as I do not like it's appearance at any price.

I think so too. However, the date does appear to have some acid treatment done too. Regardless, this is sure one ugly coin. Sort of looks sick. I think I'd be afraid to touch it just, in case.

Definitely a pass on the '13-S.'
If YOU see something wrong with it, everyone else will see it too.
Save your money until an 'honest' example is found.
A lesson that took me years to learn.

Environmental damage and CLEANED, perhaps harshly, to remove the ED.

I've had a few of these myself that were dark and pitted and I managed to remove the dark, but not the pitting. It was probably pretty dull at some point and then polished. Then it toned or was made to tone.

If this guy was auctioning it he might get somewhere in the neighborhood of $100-150. You'd have to be loopy to give him his $375 asking price.

I wouldn't want the coin either, but I think y'all are being a but harsh. It is an "original date" and it does have a full horn. It's been through some stuff, but in the realm of bad, it's not that bad. One poster said "5-50 dollars"...do you have any idea what an original date 13-s type 2 looks like to be worth 5-50. I saw one once and it had half of one digit of date left, zero horn, was black and pitted except for the bad green corrosion on the surface....and it may have been slightly bent (couldn't tell for sure). I believe it went for $28 in a true auction.

I think if this coin were put up for a true auction, someone is going to see the full date, the full horn...and the generally XF details (while pitted and strangely colored) and it it will get bid up into the 200s.

I think this coin sells for 100-150 if it was restored, Steve.

I agree with 52Raymo.. My guess is a ground find that was vinegar soaked to clean it and then artificially toned. Get a few no date Buffalo nickels, soak them in vinegar for a month or so and you get a very similar look.

With regard to the question of whether it's been restored: I doubt it, and if it was, it was then polished\whizzed to remove the dullness. Whether it was or wasn't, this much is true: It didn't need to be. Restoring "restores" lost detail. This nickel still had plenty of detail including, most importantly, the date. I'm thinking that at some point in its life its obverse was flush up against something very smooth (and possibly metallic) with moisture and minerals present between the two. The reverse fared much better for reasons unknown - possibly because it was up against a much lighter, or porous substance...or just air.

I guess it could auction for more than $150. Heck, I've auctioned restorations of this date and received more than $150 for them, so why not? I just always figured that crazy stuff like that was because of the full moon.

***edited for punctuation***

I had an 13-S T2 that I nic a dated. I put it out in the case with a $100 price tag and it sold within 3 days. So I'm in agreement that $5 to $50 it way low.