| Author |
 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,268 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
533 Posts |
So, I have a few dateless Buffalo nickels, and I recently aquired a bottle of nic-a-date. Should I use it? A dateless Buff isn't worth much, but if I nicked a key date would it be anything? Does it make the coin look like junk after its done? What is the proper technique for using the stuff? Thanks! MorganNoob |
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
It has been said that a date-restored nickel would never be worth less than a dateless one. And if a reveled date yields a key date, then it would definitely be worth more than a dateless one, but of course not as much as an untampered one.
The coin does look stained when it is used. Some apply the nic-a-date to the entire surface, not just the date area, to evenly "stain" the coin; others try to minimize the application to the date area.
I have a few dateless nickels and I have been contemplating the same thing! I have never used it, so I'd listen for others to chime in.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
547 Posts |
I actually buy dateless nickels for the sole purpose of restoring the date. My goal? To try and put together a complete set of acid restored dates. Personally, I minimize restoration to the date area only.
When you apply a drop to the date area, you will start to see the date appear. You can either wipe the excess nic-a-date off or rinse with water. It's quite simple to use.
Dateless buff's are inexpensive, so it doesn't hurt to buy a few to practice with either.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
533 Posts |
quote:
Dateless buff's are inexpensive, so it doesn't hurt to buy a few to practice with either.
 Lol, thats funny. I don't want to ruin the dateless buffs that I have, so I will buy some that are not mine to practice on...  Because there is a better chance that the ones that I have are a key date then the ones that I buy. Lol. But seriously, thanks for the tips, I will probably give it a shot tonight. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
547 Posts |
You're right that does sound silly now that I re-read it.  What I think I was trying to say is that you could try on one's with a barely readable date or partial date that you know may be common to acheive the result that you may be looking for. Hopefully that makes more sense.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1713 Posts |
Let me know how it works for you. I recently inherited several dateless buffs and perhaps I'll have to give this a try. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
jbuck said it all. If you do use it, use it on the entire coin. Front and back. Then rinse with distilled water. Sure it will looked cleaned but if a rare date, it will be worth the slight cleaning. I've seen many restored date Buffalos for sale at coin shows, noted as such, and still selling for a decent price. And as already noted if you have a completed set of them, they all look the same anyway.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
Here's what I do with the stuff. I just place the smallest amount possible to reveal the date. Let it sit for like 45-60 seconds or until you see the nic-a-date start turning very dark brown, then take a q-tip and place it to the edge of the nic-a-date and it will absorb enough to see the date, if not let the remaining nic-a-date which will look almost clear or light brown sit there for a minute or 2 and it should reveal the date,then rinse the coin. If not repeat the above procedure. I've found doing it this way leaves less of that brown stain. I found a 1913-S type 2 last week and a 21-S. I don't like doing the whole coin as IMO I don't like the way it makes the coin look or feel and your eating away a pretty good portion of what's left of the coins original surface (strong stuff). I just want to see if I can find some key dates, it's sorta fun as you never know what you may find, especially with the mint marked coins.
Edited by mr merc
03/20/2008 10:58 am
|
|
Valued Member
United States
255 Posts |
May as well take something thats basically worth face and try to get something that may be really cool. Personally I love acid treated buffs. You can acquire an entire set to incldue some of the overdates for a fraction of what it costs to purchase one of the key dates. Buffalos have gotten kind of rediculous and this allows others of us with less cash to enjoy them just the same.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1713 Posts |
quote:
your eating away a pretty good portion of what's left of the coins original surface (strong stuff).
Is this something that needs to be handled with gloves? Are other special precautions needed? |
|
Valued Member
United States
342 Posts |
I once saw a posting where a guy used a grease pencil to outline the date area and keep the acid from spreading. Some of his restored date coins were barely noticable,
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
535 Posts |
I just got some and tried with three buffs. The date came out in all three of them. Its pretty cool. It does leave a stain where you put it. Whats the worse that can happen? You ruin a worthless nickle?
|
| |
Replies: 11 / Views: 1,268 |
|
Posted 03/19/2008 12:39 pm
