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Replies: 17 / Views: 6,698 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
I've been wanting to try this for awhile now. The specimen is a dateless Buffalo nickel. I used concentrated nitric acid on the date area for approximately 20 mins. To my surprize...IT WORKED! The date is clearly 1918! 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
Bad, could you post a pic? I have never seen the final result and how the overall coin looks afterwards. Thx, jim
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
19930 Posts |
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
If your photos are accurate, that is truely a success story. Most of the solutions people use leave a stain at the date but yours looks great.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
Amazing, where do you get concentrated nitric acid? I have a pile of old dateless Buf nickels and fwould like to try it on a few. Jim
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
19930 Posts |
Thanks Carl. One mistake I made was being too sloppy, it was a "quick and dirty" experiment. Next time I do it I'll only put the acid on the exact date area.
Jim - I'm a chemist so I have access to just about any chemical in the world. You won't be able to purchase nitric acid anywhere that I know of.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
193 Posts |
I am going to have to try this, I happen to have several liters in my chemistry set. Local coin shop has a box of dateless buffs for cheap. Sounds like a good project for me and my young nephew. I like science experiments. (Anyone trying this, Be sure to ware Eye Protection)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
quote: Jim - I'm a chemist so I have access to just about any chemical in the world. You won't be able to purchase nitric acid anywhere that I know of.
You artificial slab toner! 
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
19930 Posts |
quote: You artificial slab toner!
Shhhhhh.....how you going to unload all those monster toned, rainbow slabs on ebay now? 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
914 Posts |
Wonderful job! A very clean acid restore.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
It's apparent you must have done the entire coin or there possibly would have been some tell tale stain in that location. Regardless, nice job. Now as a Chemist, you should really know that the access to concentrated Nitric Acid is really no big thing. Almost any Acid of varying concetrations are available in most school labs. High school labs generally have weaker concentratioins but in all of our college labs, there is always concentrated solutions. If in a large industrial area, they can be obtained at many types of shops if you know someone. Used in plating processes, chem supply houses and many, many more. Acedic forms are so common around here in the Chicago area I would think it is easier to obtain than drinking water, slight exageration, and maybe safer. I've always wondered about that nicodate stuff. Not sure how to spell it, but available at many coin shops, coin shows, ebay, etc.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Oh, forgot to mention. I taught jr. college for several years in chem.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
19930 Posts |
quote: It's apparent you must have done the entire coin or there possibly would have been some tell tale stain in that location. Regardless, nice job. Now as a Chemist, you should really know that the access to concentrated Nitric Acid is really no big thing. Almost any Acid of varying concetrations are available in most school labs. High school labs generally have weaker concentratioins but in all of our college labs, there is always concentrated solutions. If in a large industrial area, they can be obtained at many types of shops if you know someone. Used in plating processes, chem supply houses and many, many more. Acedic forms are so common around here in the Chicago area I would think it is easier to obtain than drinking water, slight exageration, and maybe safer. I've always wondered about that nicodate stuff. Not sure how to spell it, but available at many coin shops, coin shows, ebay, etc.
You must be getting old Carl! LOL Look closely at the pic, you can clearly see where the acid was in contact with the coin. I just put one drop over the date area. Next time, I'm going to use a micropipet to tighten up the treated area. I've also considered masking off the area around the date to protect the rest of the coin. DISCLAIMER: I'm not sure about obtaining Nitric acid by the general public....never looked into it because I don't have to. LOL I can tell you this....any of you thinking of "playing" with ANY concentrated acids better be EXTREMELY careful. I'm a trained chemist with over 20 years of experience, concentrated mineral acids are VERY DANGEROUS and should only be used in a hood with proper eye protection, gloves, etc. In fact, I recommend none of you even attempt this.
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Valued Member
United States
173 Posts |
Little BadThad was a Chemist Little BadThad is No More For what Little BadThad thought was h2o Was really in fact - h2so4
Sorry Thad I had to do it. I know you'll get even......and then some.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
717 Posts |
quote: In fact, I recommend none of you even attempt this.
As Elmer Fuss used to say, "Be vewy, vewy caywful. Don't twy this at home."
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Replies: 17 / Views: 6,698 |