Buffalo nickel acidizing for a date ??

[fishnnut]

So if a guy takes a no-date buffalo nickel and uses acid to try and recover the date if it's a key or semi-key date is it of no value? I watched some you tube videos of guys doing this and thought well the no date is probably only worth .25 to .50 before using acid so not much value to lose..I know cleaning or altering a coin isn't a good thing but in this case what is there to lose?

 

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[coinsareawesome]

Truthfully, if you find a coin that has no date, in my opinion it is worth trying to find a date on it. If it's a semi-key or key date, you just made quite a few bucks. If it's not a valuable date, then it's worth the same than if it didn't have a date on it.

 

[cudamark]

I doubt anyone would be interesting in paying much for an acid dipped coin. Too many counterfeits out there. If you want to do it for your own amusement, fine, but, don't expect to increase the value much. I mean, you're starting with an AG coin at best (most likely a cull), so you're not going to raise the grade to any great extent, and for sure won't improve the wear.

 

[enamel7]

If it's a coin like the 1913 high mound they can be identified without the date.

 

[coinsareawesome]

Or if you're lucky, a three-legged buffalo!

 

[cudamark]

Or if you're lucky, a three-legged buffalo!

Those are the most acid dipped counterfeits of them all!

 

[BigWaveDave]

You got nothing to lose...go for it....

 

[jerseyben]

I doubt anyone would be interesting in paying much for an acid dipped coin. Too many counterfeits out there. If you want to do it for your own amusement, fine, but, don't expect to increase the value much. I mean, you're starting with an AG coin at best (most likely a cull), so you're not going to raise the grade to any great extent, and for sure won't improve the wear.

I don't understand your correlation between acid treating nickels and counterfeits? Also, you don't dip them in acid. It is just a drop of the solution and you don't treat the entire coin.

 

[cudamark]

Careful use of acid can make a date on a coin. It can also remove a hoof to make it 3 legged. If you see an acid treated surface on a coin, it should raise red flags.

 

[jerseyben]

Careful use of acid can make a date on a coin. It can also remove a hoof to make it 3 legged. If you see an acid treated surface on a coin, it should raise red flags.

Have you use nic-a-date before? That's not really how it works.

 

[enamel7]

I don't believe he has. Like you said, it doesn't work that way.

 

[cudamark]

Have you use nic-a-date before? That's not really how it works.

Sure it does. Nic-a-date has ferric acid as it's main agent. Acids etches metal. Nickels have a composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel (except the '42-5 war nickels). The stamping process concentrates the nickel more in the unraised areas and the copper is in higher concentration in the raised sections. It's a bit more complex than that, but, I want to keep it simple to understand. Ferric acid attacks the nickel more than it does the copper causing the raised areas to remain and the other areas to be eaten away by the acid. The result is the appearance of more detail. The acid leaves a different surface appearance than an untreated coin. That can be seen easily with a good loupe. Nic-a-date isn't the only stuff out there that will etch a coin. Other chemicals that will attack the copper can be used to actually change a date or remove a feature. I'm just saying that you should be careful when buying a nickel that has been treated, regardless of which actual chemical is used.