I acquired about 40 Buffalo nickels in an estate sale but someone used Nic-A-Date and did not clean off the residue. Is there something that will remove this w/o damaging the coin? Shame to let these go because all have visible dates.
Sadly, once they've been acid-dated, they are marked forever unclean. Much like the book of French Impressionist painters George Constanza took into the bookstore bathroom...
That does not bother me as I want to sell them but also make them more presentable and of course, describe them as having been treated. I have all the dates myself so I don't need them but they are sooo ugly right now.
I am not sure how you can damage a damaged coin, but try vinegar. I have seen coins where vinegar was used to raise the date that looked relatively descent. And it is much slower and easier to control.
I use vinegar/salt with all my dateless. It at least makes the whole coin look the same. I don't know if it would eat away the nic-a-dated portion and even it out though.
Unless there are key dates (such as 1926-S, for example) I would just spend them. They are chemically treated problem coins now. I wouldn't want them in contact with other coins in my collection and it's not like they are presentable in an album, either.
I would have to disagree. I would keep them for sure. I would not spend them as a mere $2, for that I would hold on to them. I agree though, if the residue is not removed in the first place then the coin will be very ruined. I have to admit, I kind of want to buy a roll of dateless buffalo nickels and then acid-date them just for curiosity. I would not have any plans in resell either and not look for any profit I would just hope to add them to my collection and if they have a date they would look way better in my collection.
I am a tad curious about the "residue" thing, bet perhaps it just isn't clicking for me. Anyway, as Furry said, you basically have to options; leave as is, or do something to, ahem, "treat" the whole coin in order to give a more uniform look. There used to, and perhaps still is some guy who had a website selling his "treated" nickels, and while they certainly wouldn't slide through a trained eye, I suppose they were not that bad all things considered. Either way though, short of a few select dates or varieties, and unless you have novelty buyers at your disposal, you're probably better off just reselling as-is and as a lot instead of as singles.
I know a few who do sell acid treated coins but also describe them as so. Not going to spend these as there are some good dates, 16D (3), 17 (3), 17D and some others. If not for the black splotch that is left behind, most of these would otherwise grade good or better obverse with full rim and vg reverse's , the date notwithstanding. And I probably would offer as a lot.
I didn't mean to imply you would do anything but. You know what you haveand what your situation is. If you don't mind going through the effort to sell as (or partly as) singles, by all means. I suppose this comes down to the difference of doing so as part of one's hobby, and as a full or partial business at the other end of the line. As for the coins themselves, the best I can suggest is to play around. Hey, in the end you might learn something as an added bonus.
What chemical did you use to acid date them? Nic-a-Date used Ferric Chloride to etch the metal, which shouldn't leave black 'splotches'. Sell as is for best offer would be my advice.
I actually did not treat this lot but have used Nic-a-Date myself and have seen this black residue when I cleaned them as a kid and failed to remove all of it after treatment. I wonder in Nic-a-Lene might help?
Nic-a-Date can leave a dark splotch in the date area if they only treat that spot (which is what most people do). Raising the date using a soaking in vinegar is slower and the coin does show the effect but the finished coin does have a more even appearance. Now the question is can the appearance be improved by soaking it for awhile in vinegar? I don't know but I think it would be a good test. I would try one of the lower value pieces and see if the vinegar fixes the splotch.
I have carried some acid treated buffalos in my pocket for a few while. The slight wear seems to give them a somewhat more natural look. Given that they have little value, you don't have much to lose.
Tried vinegar for about 16 hours and not working. Also found a 1913D Type 1 Buffalo that I can't let go of either. Nice very good reverse with an AG obverse. Need some more advice fellas.
My recollection is that it took up to 30 days for vinegar to work in some cases. I would not give up on it so soon.
Unfortunately I don't think you're gonna find anything to remove that hideous acid look. Maybe you can make something out of all 40, something artsy or sell them on the bay. I don't know why, but I've seen them for sale on there before.
