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Replies: 8 / Views: 442 |
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Valued Member
United States
162 Posts |
I found a dateless Buffalo nickel from CRH a little while ago. I'm not sure whether to Nic-A-Date it or not. I've never used Nic-A-Date before and do not own a bottle yet. Before I order one off Amazon, I wanted to get the forum's opinion. Judging by the slick appearance of the Buffalo nickel, it's likely from the teens or twenties. I also did not see a mint mark on the reverse. I know Nic-A-Date is a weak acid, ferric chloride, I believe, so it would damage the coin a bit. Also not sure if it would increase or decrease the value of the coin. But the curiosity is kind of killing me not knowing. I've included a couple of images below. What sayest the forum? Shall I Nic-A-Date or not? Cheers!  
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
76323 Posts |
Go for it - either way you have a coin of little value.
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Pillar of the Community

United States
870 Posts |
It won't add to the value of the coin, but you'll be out the cost of a bottle of Nic-A-Date. Put it back into circulation.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
76323 Posts |
Curiosity killled the cat.
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Valued Member
United States
162 Posts |
Thanks for all the replies so far. I just wanted to clarify that this is my first Buffalo nickel ever. Not just the first Buffalo from CRH, but the first Buffalo nickel I've ever seen in person. So it does have some sentimental value to me, as a relatively new coin collector. That's also why I didn't want to "hurt" it, by Nic-A-Dating it :-) Cheers!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
880 Posts |
Congrats on your first Buffalo nickel find  and yes you dont find many at all just searching pocket change anymore. I would say not to use it then in this case. In general its been mentioned that its capable to turn a dateless coin into a damaged coin that can be identified by the date and therefore might have some value if its a rarer date. This is because even damaged some rare dated coins have value to them. So perhaps if you have a pile of dateless buffalos that have some very low value as is you could potentially have fun to 'role the dice' and see if there is anything rare among them. But if not it essentially ruins them that are worth face value. Otherwise, they are worth 10 cents or so, right? - its not like your gambling with high value items. You should also check there aren't other die markers available to identify the date. There are cases of "dateless" Buffalo nickels attributed and slabbed as is, due to die markers. And one of those is more desirable than the same coin with an acid etched date which some wont buy no matter what while others got some good return on one.
Edited by datadragon 02/07/2023 12:08 am
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Valued Member
United States
162 Posts |
@datadragon Thank you. That's what I figured, as well, which I why I put it into a 2x2 at first. But the curiosity keeps eating at me, thinking that I may be able to add it to my 100+ year old CRH coin pile :-)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
672 Posts |
I keep every Buffalo nickel I find, and definitely don't just throw it back into circulation. It is a piece of history. I have a small bag of Buffalo nickels from coin roll hunting.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2481 Posts |
You could always "pickle" it... putting it in vinegar for a few days - the date will usually show up.
CRH Nickeloholic. 1,700,000 nickels searched in seven years! Already have found THREE complete Jefferson sets!
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Replies: 8 / Views: 442 |
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