Just cleaned the mud off and found a 1913 buffalo

[Ken from Atlanta]

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......

 

[Nana40]

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]

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

 

[JimBeHuntin']

Nice buffalo ... good to find one with a readable date for a change ~ Jimmy

 

[lockman209]

nice find

 

[camb1]

Boy that is in great shape. Congrats

 

[RickyP]

Nice Buff

 

[Pocket Treys]

Very nice buffalo

Does the windex hurt the coin at all??

 

[Ken from Atlanta]

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]

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

Regards,


Buckleboy

 

[Ken from Atlanta]

it's definitely a 4 legged buffalo. I think I'll just leave it alone anyway though.

 

[texan connection]

Ive only seen a couple dug that were that pretty

 

[Ken from Atlanta]

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.

 

[waseeker]

Nice finds.

HH

 

[SgtSki in MI]

Nice Buffalo Ken!!!

-SgtSki

 

[Brendan M.]

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]

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]

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.

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

Very good deal on the Buff.

Bob

 

[Bridge End Farm]

nice coin, you did a good job cleaning it

 

[Fishstank]

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