Just cleaned the mud off and found a 1913 buffalo

Ken from Atlanta

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Feb 4, 2008
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I've had this buffalo in my cup of assorted stuff for a while now, and since I'm supposed to be cleaning up my mess today, I decided to start with the coins in the cup. I found this buffalo in a vacant lot nearby a while back, but just tossed it in the cup because I couldn't make out a date and just figured it was another mystery year, and forgot about it.

Anyway, I hit it with some windex and started rubbing the crusty mud off and noticed that the mound under the buffalo didn't have a line through it, and that I could still read the "five cents" on the mound. When I turned it over and worked on the other side I noticed that the "13" in 1913 is clearly visible now that the mud is gone, and the top of the 9 is still there too. The metal is reddish black, but I'm going to try to shine it up a bit, and maybe take some better pics......
 

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Nana40

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Feb 3, 2005
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Great that it has a date! Those are hard to find. Good idea on the Windex too. I'll have to try that. :)

Nana
 

halfdime

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Oct 31, 2006
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I've dug dozens of Buffs, and that one is in better shape than any of them; that's a nice find!
 

lockman209

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camb1

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Boy that is in great shape. Congrats
 

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Ken from Atlanta

Ken from Atlanta

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Feb 4, 2008
318
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Olympia Washington
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I didn't scrub it at all, just wiped it with my fingers, all it did was break loose the mud which was a slimy clay and make it easier to clean off. it left the patina on the coin so I don't think it affected the metal in any way.
 

BuckleBoy

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Nice Buffalo Type I!!! Make absolutely certain it isn't a three-legged variety before you attempt any more drastic cleaning methods.

Regards,


Buckleboy
 

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Ken from Atlanta

Ken from Atlanta

Sr. Member
Feb 4, 2008
318
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Olympia Washington
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it was dug on a vacant lot nearby in an old flower bed. BTW my girlfriend came home and was not pleased that all I managed to do was clean off the coin jar coins, and then go out detecting.......I think I might have to actually clean up all the things I've exploded around the room here tomorrow. I've got quite a mess as I'm packing to head for New Orleans on monday.
 

Brendan M.

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Apr 14, 2006
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Nice Buffalo! WTG!

One of the most effective cleaning methods for any type of nickel is the white vinegar+salt solution (you can find a full post on it in the "Cleaning" forum). It removes the red stain right before your eyes.

Good luck!

HH,
Brendan
 

Don in SJ

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May 20, 2005
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That Buffalo is in nice shape, perhaps a more recent drop. I remember years ago I found one below a big oak tree that kids played around and mine was in such unbelieveable condition that my son and I figured it was probably dropped within the year and was most likely from a collection of one of the kid's parents... :)

Don
 

Mirage

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Sep 16, 2005
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Ken from Atlanta said:
it was dug on a vacant lot nearby in an old flower bed. BTW my girlfriend came home and was not pleased that all I managed to do was clean off the coin jar coins, and then go out detecting.......I think I might have to actually clean up all the things I've exploded around the room here tomorrow. I've got quite a mess as I'm packing to head for New Orleans on monday.

:D :D Yeah, what a waste of time! Oh, wait. That's how I waste time. ;D ;D

Very good deal on the Buff.

Bob
 

Fishstank

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That's what I hate about buffalo's. I have one that was given to me and the date's rubbed off. I think this was a poor design flaw when they made these.

Fish
 

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