Hi Everybody, Please don't beat me up on this. I have about 200 no date Buffalo nickels that I routinely pass out in change. Some have mint marks, so I've been putting those aside. I just bought a bottle of Nic-a-Date and tried it on a few to see how it works. It did bring up the date, but makes the treated area look funky. I'm not trying to to make a purse out of a sow's ear here, but I think it is more interesting if the junk coins I put back into circulation have a date on them. Is there a way to make an acid treated Buffalo look a little more respectable? Any input is appreciated. Thanks. Joe
There actually is a way. That is to leave them as they are IMO. Most coins (buffaloes) I've seen with that kind of work always show some acid marks and gosh they look better without a date.
Dude, your picture is disturbing looking! LOL... Other than yhat, I have no useful information for you!
put it in white vinegar for an hour - a day and the dark acid mark should lighten up and even out a little.
I've purchased a nickel done in this fashion just to examine them. It looks as if it were one of those satin finish coins from the mint sets gone wrong. But, to answer the original question; I'd experiment with carrying the coin around with other change for a few days after the acid treatment. At worst, you'll end up giving it away in change with all the others. But, don't expect to get a great price for it even if it happens to work well.
Back in the late 50s when Buffalo nickels still could be found in circulation, many of them had the date worn off. Like you, I used Nic-a-date to reveal the hidden date. Worked great but as you have discovered, it permanently screws up the coin. I didn't think Nic-a-date was still available now though.
The coin is messed up anyway after the acid treatment. So nothing to lose whatever you do to it. I've had limited results rubbing Mother's Mag Wheel polish on them. Once and a while a random coin comes out better looking.
