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No Date Buffaloes

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Valued Member
mr merc's Avatar
United States
143 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  5:24 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add mr merc to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
what's a good price for no date Buffalo nickels?
No longer with us
United States
207 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  6:05 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add 1899 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
25 CENTS OR LOWER, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND BUYING THEM HOWEVER
New Member
paland's Avatar
United States
34 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  6:06 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add paland to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
On ebay I've gotten a bag of 500 for $80 (Total including shipping) I can usually get a roll of nickels for $8-$10 including shipping. Usually I get a bag when I win an online poker tournament, like I just did an hour ago for $1180. I thnk I'll look for another bag.
I acid date lots of them and seperate them by date. It's just a wierd hobby of mine. I'm a Buffalo nickel fanatic. I've gotten pretty good about getting a date and still look good, but I still just add that coin to the right roll.
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mycrob's Avatar
United States
2602 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  8:20 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add mycrob to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Roughly 20-25 cents apiece is routine on ebay. 16 cents, like paland's purchase, is a steal. Most (>75%) of the no dates are teens. Take a look at all the keys and semi-keys of this series and just about all of them, except 21S, 26S, 31S, are teen mint marked coins. If you know how to restore them, think it is a great way to fill those tough slots without spending a huge amount of money.
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Lucky_13's Avatar
United States
749 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  8:29 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Lucky_13 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
paland..what is acid date?
Valued Member
mr merc's Avatar
United States
143 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  8:41 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add mr merc to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the replies. I bought 150 no dates at my local coin shop for 10 cents a piece. About 20% with mintmarks.
New Member
paland's Avatar
United States
34 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  10:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add paland to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Acid dating is this: You can buy a small bottle of nic-a-date from ebay or other sites. If you take this acid and put a small drop on the date area, after about 10-40 seconds, you will be able to see the date on most of these coins. When the planchet was stamped at the mint, the stamped area is denser than the surrounding area. Acid dating removes some of the nickel around that area but leaves the denser area intact, at least if you dont leave the acid on too long.

I found that if you put the nic-a-date on a small brush (like an oil paint brush), and then lightly brush over the date area, you can get the date without leaving a god awful stain right in that area. It takes a bit of practice but you can do it so that it is hard to see any stain. I then rinse the nickel in distilled water and if the coin is a good date and looks nice, I give it an acetone bath. I've had some really nice coins restored.

Once a person acid dates nickels, they can always tell an acid dated coin. the thickness of the numbers is skinnier on the acid dated coins and you can't really fake this. I can tell in a heartbeat if a date is an original or an acid date coin.

And as mycrob, above mentioned that the teens are predominant, I have to agree. Thru about 800 nickels, the most common ones are the 1916,1918 and 1919, with the 1915 and 1917 right behind them. The 1914 seems to be the rarest ones. I've also found quite a few 1913 type 1's with the mounds. Lots of these in fact.

Note that if you use a substance like this on a nickel, it is considered a damaged coin and its value is almost nil. Most of us acid date these coins just for a hobby or just to see what the coin is. If you do acid date a coin and it is a key date, I have found these coins go for about 1/8th of what a G4 coin would go for. A 1913-S Type 2 can sell for 20-40$ depending on how good the job is.
Edited by paland
01/27/2008 10:20 pm
New Member
paland's Avatar
United States
34 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  10:07 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add paland to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
"Thanks for the replies. I bought 150 no dates at my local coin shop for 10 cents a piece. About 20% with mintmarks."

Then you got a great deal Mr, merc. The melt value of these coins is between 7 and 9 cents each, depending on what souce is used. Also, one if the most thrilling things in acid dating is doing the mint marked ones. There are no good plain dates so the thrill isn't there as much. But doing coins that have a D or S mint mark can be exciting.
Edited by paland
01/27/2008 10:10 pm
Pillar of the Community
mahgobbi's Avatar
United States
549 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  10:11 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add mahgobbi to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
paland - can I get your opinion on this?

https://goccf.com/t/24719#24719
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paland's Avatar
United States
34 Posts
 Posted 01/27/2008  10:26 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add paland to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Many of the 1918's that have been acid dated look like they could be 1918/7. I got so excited many times. I was so sure of some of them that even ones with no mint marks were getting me excited. So I take 1918's cautiously.

Having said that, this one does seem to have potential. I would have an expert look at it closer in person.
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Lucky_13's Avatar
United States
749 Posts
 Posted 01/28/2008  12:27 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Lucky_13 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the explanation paland..I have a few Buffalo nickles in which the date is worn off..im not comfortable doing this acid dating bit, I guess it will remain a mystery
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mahgobbi's Avatar
United States
549 Posts
 Posted 01/28/2008  12:40 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add mahgobbi to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I, on the other hand, am seriously considering purchasing some no-date buffalos and acid-restoring them. I think it'll be fun to restore them with my kids (making sure they stay far away from the acid!) and I won't lose money, since teen-dated buffalos with acid stains are selling for the same, or slightly more than, no-date buffalos.
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts
 Posted 01/28/2008  2:43 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
At one time I had a few rolls of those and ended up giving them to kids in the neighborhood. I had them for a long, long time and probably got them in change and possibly that is where the kids put them. I would suggest you spend money on coins that are usable, not experimental. The cost of the acid, postage and handling for such coins and the acid is just a waste of money and time.
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paland's Avatar
United States
34 Posts
 Posted 01/28/2008  8:37 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add paland to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
mahgobbi, I think this would be a good idea especially if the kids like it. The acid that comes in nic-a-date does an excellent job of getting the dates out. It doesn't burn your hands or anything if it gets on them but do make sure that they wash their hands when they are done. (Disclaimer: Some might have bad reactions to it so do be careful with it). A bottle of nic-a-date costs $5-$6 and can restore well over 1000 nickels. One bottle should be enough and there are quite a few people who sell a bottle on ebay. Also, I always end up having quite a bit splashed on my shirt and it is very tough to wash out, so you might want everyone who deals with it to wear some worn clothes that can be throw aways when done. Also, have a bowl or two of water there so you can rinse the coins. The water will color quickly so you may need to change it every 20 coins or so.

just carl, waste is a relative term. I make a decent amount of money at my job as a computer geek and I make quite a bit on poker for extra, so if I "waste" a few dollars doing something that I enjoy, then it wasnt wasted. And kids would love this activity. There is a undercurrent of dislike for restored nickels and some dislike them to an unhealthy degree. I see it on most coin forums. I have even been called names just because I do it. One called me a fraud just for doing it. Nobody should let this dissuade them from doing something that has a lot of fun involved in it.

(Actualy I think there are several unhealthy hangups that many coin collectors have in general. It is a shame to see this but I ignore them and do what I wish. I am not here to please them.)

Edit: just carl, I came back and read this back to myself. I can see where it seems that I came across too negative to you. I did not mean to. I meant the business as a whole and not at you. I appologize that my internet skill are still lacking.
Edited by paland
01/28/2008 9:15 pm
New Member
42 Posts
 Posted 01/28/2008  8:40 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add coinzzzzzzzz to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Like others said nicadate works well. But it really tarnishes the coin.
New Member
paland's Avatar
United States
34 Posts
 Posted 01/28/2008  8:42 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add paland to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
coinzzzzzz, if the coin is dateless to begin with, what difference does it make if it is tarnished?
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