Dateless Buffalo Nickels - what do you do with them?

CJ9

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Dec 15, 2018
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I think I have 25 or so dateless buffalo nickels, and I am wondering what to do with them. With the exception of one, they are all minted in Philadelphia - so none of them are particularly rare. Most have LIBERTY on the front partially worn off, and on the reverse, the mottos are merged into the rim. So these coins don't have any numismatic value. I haven't nic-a-dated them because 1) I don't have any nic-a-date and 2) even by doing so, it damages the coin to where there is no value.

I am thinking of re-rolling them as I dump so someone else (collector or not) can pick up a novelty. Maybe it will get some local shop owner into collecting coins when they open the roll and see it.
 

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jrf30

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I use nic-a-date and see what years they are. It works absolute wonders. they are not worth much anyway, so I'm not worried about ruining the coins by using this.
 

DTW

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My 12 y.o. son and I love to nic-a-date them. We've started a book of "date restored" Buffalo nickels, kind of like how people create a collection of low grade coins. We've actually found some rarer date/mm nickles, and although they are obviously damaged by the chemical, it does make a good hole filler, and they do have some value, albeit not nearly as much as a clean dated example. Basically, we've taken what is only worth .05, and added some value to it. Plus it's really cool to see the date reappear.
 

port ewen ace

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just sold a '17 P & D pair for $3, and not the 1st time I sold acid treated ND buffs. the bottle has more than paid for it's cost:happysmiley:
 

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CJ9

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They’re worth 5c to me. I’ve spent dozens or more so others can get a cheap thrill.

Thanks. This is exactly what I was thinking - they are worth 5c to me also. I just put all 20 of them that I have into a roll of nickels to be dumped. Someone around here will get that cheap thrill.
 

Wildcat1750

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I keep them and pass them on to young kids to get them interested in coin collecting. You'll rarely ever see them ever again in circulation.
 

Dozer D

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Maybe someone can make jewelry items from them, don't know what.
 

Emperor Findus Cladius

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Drill holes in them and make them into buttons, dress up a shirt or jacket. Or solder a hook on the back and again use them as a button.
 

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CJ9

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Drill holes in them and make them into buttons, dress up a shirt or jacket. Or solder a hook on the back and again use them as a button.

They are already gone. I put all 20 of them in a roll and turned them into a bank the other day. Found another dateless buffalo today in a CWR and just rolled it back up.
 

TheWalrus

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I used to do custom leatherwork for living history shows, from Renaissance era to Black powder and Pirate days. I would make buttons and toggles out of them for the vests and pouches. I would also make jewelry such as simple necklaces and pendants. Now I save them for the scout troops working on coin collecting.
 

Twitch

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I just leave them around in funny spots in public so people will find them. Gone through 3-4 full rolls. Park benches, library shelves, wherever.
 

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CJ9

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I just leave them around in funny spots in public so people will find them. Gone through 3-4 full rolls. Park benches, library shelves, wherever.

This is actually a good idea. I am going to begin doing this.
 

eyemustdigtreasure

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Maybe someone can make jewelry items from them, don't know what.

That's right, at least re-purpose them...hey, Hobo Nickels use old Buffalo nickels for their artistic change in
appearance, mainly because the coin is heavy, with potential for a masterpiece (see attached)
hobo.JPG

SAVE THEM...!
 

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cyberdan

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I just leave them around in funny spots in public so people will find them. Gone through 3-4 full rolls. Park benches, library shelves, wherever.

Throw in school tot lots. Will give a detectorist fits what he keeps finding dateless nickels.

I once sold a big baggy of lincoln cents, on ebay, that even coinstar would refuse. My listing was for you to throw in tot lots to payback the detectorist that keeps invading your territory or to throw in the hunting area where your next MD club is going to have their hunt.
 

Johncoho

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I have soaked dateless buffs that I detect in a 50 / 50 solution of peroxide and apple cider vinegar and it will bring the date back out on most of them. The only problem is they will look like new nickels.
 

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