| Author |
 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,117 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
Does anyone have any secrets or solutions to cleaning up (dup up) Buffalo nickels. These nickels were dug up in the 60's & 70's. I have about 80 of them and most have no dates and are dark and rusty looking. I want to try to bring the date back on them, but the solution turns very dark when applied. Any help will be appreciated. |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6383 Posts |
You could try soaking them in white vinegar. That will lightly etch the entire coin surface and in many cases will expose the date. I wouldn't expect it to darken the coin. Worth a try IMO!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
613 Posts |
Hey thanx, I'll try white vinegar It can't hurt them none.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
My nickels have been soaking in white vinegar for 4 days. They're trying to loosen up, but the vinegar has a blue tint to it, should I change the vinegar? Why blue?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1523 Posts |
Change the vinegar every couple of days.I would even try to loosen the stuff up with a q-tip first and then change the solution.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
OK, thanks. Wasn't sure if the vinegar would lose its potency. I guess it does.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6383 Posts |
Vinegar is dilute acetic acid which, although a weak acid, does gradually dissolve the copper and nickel metal from the coin surface. The metals are converted to acetate salts and those substances are bluish-green in color, so the vinegar solution gradually turns blue. The acetic acid is used up as the metal is dissolved, so you must change the vinegar in order to have the process continue. You need to keep checking the coins and decide at what point they are "ready". If you wait too long even the major details of the coin will start to disappear. Please post some photos of your treated nickels if you can. Hopefully you will find some better dates among your coins. (Whoo-hoo, 2000 posts! I'm giving myself a banana dance to celebrate!  ) |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
What great info on the blue tinting of vinegar. I wish I had a camera, but thats one thing in my life that I never had interest in. I can see now that a camera is pretty much a must on coin forums. I guess I'd better get interested. Will have to do alot of reading. Congrats on your 2000th post.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
The white vinegar is doing a fantastic job so far. I've got dates from 1913 thru 1937. Only 1 with a MM so far, 1929-S. I've added 4 "V" nickels to the mix and one is a 1912 something. Its either a D or S or a die chip. Time will tell.
|
|
New Member
United States
22 Posts |
C-L-R
use NOTHING like vinegar which will dissolve the Copper in the coin
|
|
Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
Sure would be cool if you found a 12-S!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
Its not, its a D. Got alot of the crust off yesterday. Looks like its filled in though. I don't know if they're common or not, but I'm pretty sure its not coming off. I guess its a die chip.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1409 Posts |
I soaked a few 'dateless' buffs in vinegar over the weekend and checked them this morning. I found a 1914, 1917, 1918S, 1920D and a couple 1919's.
There were three 1920 and two 1927's also.
I've got another batch going in today. Six with mintmarks.
|
| |
Replies: 12 / Views: 2,117 |
|
Posted 03/12/2010 5:15 pm
