Man, that fourth digit is invisible. I know a drop of vinegar will work on a Buffalo sometimes, but it ruins any value... Joe
Might be the best way, using a drop of "nic-a-date" or similar. Here's a "restored" '85 on eBay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/Key-Date-1885-L...47?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item43a7661ebf
You two are suggesting that the guy pour solvent on the specimen before he tries to tip a simple household lamp at the coin?
Cheetah... look at the coin. He can tip a lamp at any angle he desires... it won't work; the date is gone. This coin is worth about 50c as a dateless V-nickel; if he restores the date and it happens to be an '85 (which it probably isn't), he can get a few bucks for it (if he decides to sell). In my opinion that's the best option, unless he just wants to fill a hole in his album with a question mark.
Dunno, kind of looks like "5" after a bit of abuse in Photoshop... Maybe I just see what I want to see and if you asked for another digit, it would have appeared too heh...
I could use nic-a-date, but I want to see if i can find the date wthut distroying it! I will mess whith photoscape