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 Replies: 21 / Views: 4,432 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I have been playing with the no date buff's and nickels. I have been getting some early ones 15,17 and 18's, come out full date. I bought 600 no date nickels at face value a couple months ago.
I am hoping other members here might share how they are getting their best results.
- I am using white vinegar. (2 - one gallon jugs from Sam's club)
- I have been using small (12oz) jars. (empty jalapeno jars)
- I place 3 or 4 coins per jar, with maybe a maybe a inch or two of vinegar
- I check coins and change the vinegar about once a week.
- some of the coins have been soaking for over a month
So far most of the coins have not shown any hint of a date.
If the op or other members would like to share more on how they are getting
results .. I know I for one would like to hear about them.
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
I used photographic acetic acid which has been in a basement cabinet, unopened for years, to bring up a weak but readable date on a Shield nickel. However, I apply it with a Q-tip to the date area, not the whole coin. Acetic acid is the active ingredient in vinegar, but it is more pure than apple cider vinegar and somewhat stronger. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The difference in density from the strike and forming of the details goes just so far into the coin. If the coin circulated just enough for the visible date to disappear it will come back strongly, but the more wear the coin received after the date disappear the weaker it will return from the acid soaking. Past a certain point the coin will be worn past the density difference and the date will not return.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Again it is OK if for fun and an experiment but if you go to a coin store or coin show, you would see those being sold for practically nothing. Most turn our with stains in places. Many become really discolored and not toning. If you should even find a rather rare one, you would be amazed at how little they would sell for.
It's sort of like many auto restorations. First thing is test for bondo. Then look for wavy lines in the straight areas. As you find those flaws, the price just drops, drops, drops.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1348 Posts |
I have never heard of these methods. I never really knew anythign about coin cleaning. I always though that was people using erasers or brillo pads on coins. I have always jsut stayed away from it. Maybe in the future i'll dabble a bit. I have onyl been collecting for a year and I don't know much.
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Valued Member
United States
155 Posts |
Ya'll are teaching me all kinds of bad habits! I found a partial date 1929 Buffalo nickel and a no date black with age and wear Buffalo nickel. What are they doing now? Taking a vinegar bath!! My wife just said, "um, where are you going with the vinegar?" "To the lab!" I said! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Maybe you'll get lucky and find one of these...  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
weerdsteev
That is a very nice looking coin .. yes .. I would really like to find one of those ..
I don't think I would ever buy one ... but I know I would like to restore one to fill that
hard hole ..
What is your secret to getting them to come out so good?
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Valued Member
United States
455 Posts |
I think I'll try the vinegar bath on a few of my no date buffaloes. Just for fun and experiment.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Goldrush58: The key to a good looking restoration is to clean the nickel before you try to bring back the date or any of the other features. I know the word "clean" is actually a DIRTY word in the world of coin collecting, but think about it...you're about to throw the nickel in a chemical that's going to DISSOLVE part of it away. Under THAT scenario, why would you be reluctant to clean it first? If it's not cleaned first, it probably won't matter if you use vinegar or Nic-a-date or anything else. If you throw a grimy nickel into one of those chemicals it will probably look pretty bad when you take it out.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1353 Posts |
weerdsteev,
Got one just like it!!
Restored it many years ago.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Thanks weerdsteev
I have about 30 dateless nickels soaking. I check them once a week. I will try the cleaning first.
I guess I was curious if you soak yours as a single coin .. maybe 3 or 4 per container .. or if
it matters. Also when you see a full date, how much better will it get by soaking it longer.
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New Member
United States
37 Posts |
I've gathering dateless nickels for awhile now too. I think I'll play too and see what I find. What a neat and interesting thread.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Goldrush: I clean up to 9 at a time (that's all I can fit into the apparatus I use for cleaning), but I only restore one at a time...and NOT in vinegar. I don't restore or treat anything that has a readable date...now THAT would be a sin!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I did not mean to say that I start out with full date coins.
But after they have been soaking, in vinegar, I start to see
a full date .. on some of the coins. I have had none come out
as bold as yours.
I sure would like to know how you do it. I am looking to fill
some of the empty holes in my dansco. So far I am only getting
the more common early dates. 1915, 1916 1917 and 1918 with and
with out mint marks.
I have somewhere between 500 and 1000 no date Buffs many with MM.
I can get more, at what I think is a good price, 5 to 8 cents each.
But if I can't get better results, not sure I want to continue.
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Replies: 21 / Views: 4,432 |
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First Page
Posted 01/19/2011 10:45 pm
