1920-S Off Metal Buffalo Nickel W Lamination

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Author	Replies: 9 / Views: 2,228
Dr86 Valued Member United States 76 Posts	Posted 10/24/2015 2:15 pm Searched for errors and oddities in my buffalo section and found one coin that is nothing like the rest. It is literally frosty white in color compared to metallic silvery color. Makes me think of the coin being off metal right away. It kinda makes you think of that re-plated 1943 cent just a more whiteish color tint instead of gray. The coin is 4.72g and I'm not sure how to grade it so if anyone could give me a hand on that based of pictures that would be awesome. You can see the lamination peel on the cheek. I do have a problem with lightning and pictures but ill do my best to take the best ones I can to show you guys, but to the naked eye you can clearly see the difference. The very first picture ill post is the rim and the coin is 100% that color. Report this Post to the Staff

westernsky Pillar of the Community United States 7635 Posts	Posted 10/24/2015 2:47 pm I don't think it's "off metal". I think it has that slightly pitted, acid treated "restored" look they get when they go through the date restoration process. The lamination on the cheek is still pretty neat though. Report this Post to the Staff
Dr86 Valued Member United States 76 Posts	Posted 10/24/2015 4:10 pm i didnt know that Buffalo nickels get restored. interesting. Report this Post to the Staff
StJoeBlues Pillar of the Community United States 573 Posts	Posted 10/24/2015 4:12 pm I agree...looks like it spent some time in a vinegar bath. Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 10/24/2015 5:03 pm Agree - acid treated in some way. Report this Post to the Staff
Dr86 Valued Member United States 76 Posts	Posted 10/24/2015 5:27 pm so if I start scratching the coin I should be able to see the its real metal right? Report this Post to the Staff
westernsky Pillar of the Community United States 7635 Posts	Posted 10/24/2015 7:19 pm The "real metal" is what you are seeing. It has just been pitted due to the acid bath and the surface has been slightly altered. To give you the Readers Digest condensed version this is kinda sorta what happens: Nickels are an alloy of mostly copper and nickel. When the coin is struck with the dies, the densities of those metals are different in detailed and non detailed areas of the struck coin. When the coin is subjected to the acid, it attacks the copper and nickel at different rates. As the metals are removed at different rates the details of the original coin reappear like magic. Yes, people do collect them. Report this Post to the Staff
vermontensium Moderator United States 16679 Posts	Posted 10/24/2015 7:53 pm Yup, not off metal but definitely dipped and metal removed. Hence the granular/dull appearance. swcoin.ecrater.com Report this Post to the Staff
Dr86 Valued Member United States 76 Posts	Posted 10/25/2015 6:46 pm so would this acid bath buffalo be worth keeping for the lamination or is it ruined because of the acid bath? Report this Post to the Staff
CoinHuntingDrew Pillar of the Community United States 4932 Posts	Posted 10/29/2015 8:05 pm She's ruined. Personally I keep all my buffalo's dateless or not and I'll sell them in bulk when I get a roll or so. Is that a D mint? 3rd pick looks like it Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 9 / Views: 2,228

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