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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,814 |
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Valued Member
United States
92 Posts |
There are a couple of threads bouncing around on the forum concerning restoring dates on dateless Buffalo nickels. Anyone can chime in on this, but I'm primarily directing this to those folks who have been discussing the merits of vinegar versus Nic-a-date. In other words - I'm hoping that the folks who HATE the idea of restoring the dates on Buffalo nickels WON'T BOTHER jumping in just to say they hate it. So here's my question: Some of the folks who have been discusssing restorations have said that this would be a cheap way to build a set. But what are you going to do when it comes to the later dates, like the 1930's? Those coins, for the most part did not wear out. Will you mix original date coins with your restored date coins in your set? Wouldn't that look sort of uneven? Edited by zoombuff222
11/22/2008 7:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
I have a few 'vinegar' nickels (such as 1917-S, 1919-S and 1924-D). Leaving the whole nickel in vinegar for ×× hours, it looks more natural and even than the Nic-A-Date "burn area", but of course the date will be fainter than with Nic-A-Date. Vinegar nickels don't look out of place in a folder of circulated "VG" Buffalo nickels  , and you avoid having ugly Nic-A-Date burns on all of the 'early' Nickels....  PS: Maybe one of the 'restorers' could sell an all-restored 1913-38 date set...  Just restore some near-date 'G' 30's Nickels from the bargain bin to 'match' the earlier Nickels.... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
It stands to reason that if the vinegar brings out the date, it would bring out other details.. so a soak for all wouldn't be a bad thing.  I just got a couple of dateless rolls to play with, so I'll definitely be comparing the soaked results with the non-soaked later dates. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
764 Posts |
you can leave it in vinegar for a few extra days and i'll bet the date will be worn/burned off afterward. unfortunately it wouldnt come back; but you'll know what the date was!
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Moderator
 United States
16677 Posts |
I have already pondered this since I am completing a set of restored date Buffs. I have several post 1930 coins with full dates. I am just going to add those to the album. No need to restore them.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
You know, I would just have to see before and after pictures of both types before I could even begin to answer this question.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
I don't think that "before and after" apply here. There is no before on a Buffalo nickel that has a natural, original date. If you assume that the reason you're using chemicals on a nickel is because it has no date, you can't take a before picture, restore the nickel and then take an after picture and say which looks better. The fact is that the before coin had no date and that renders the comparison pointless. The before coin in this scenario would have nicer surfaces, but it has no date! It's one of those 6 of one or half dozen of the other arguments. You have to look at the various photos folks have been posting of nickels (on numerous threads) they've been restoring with vinegar or Nic-a-date or whatever and then find a nice Buffalo nickel in roughly VG to F condition and then compare the two. They're worlds apart. Hands down, the original date coin wins the beauty contest. However, in my view, a nicely restored Buffalo nickel makes a great filler, temporary or long term, and is certainly a better choice than a scratched or pitted original date coin with AG or G-4 details. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
I would NOT acid-treat a coin that has a clear or partial date. Just have a mixture of restored and natural dates and work towards slowly moving the restored dates out as you upgrade.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
I will have a better answer to this question in a day or two , I just bought a restored date buffalo 14-D when it gets here then I will have something to compare to un touched buffs .
I have not restored any of these myself so as far as which is better vinegar or nic-a-date I can't comment , but the one I bought was done with nic-a-date.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Metalman, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get the 14-D? (Use a generality if you don't wish to be specific: Local coin shop, ebay, mail order house, etc) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
It was offered here on the forum for auction !
I bid and won the coin .
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,814 |
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Posted 11/22/2008 8:57 pm
