OK, I have quite a few dateless Buffalo's I have accumulated over the years. I just have them plastic rolls. I have been thinking about getting a bottle of Nic-a-Date and seeing if I can get the dates to come out on them. I figure...they couldn't be worth less than they are already...and maybe I can fill some holes in my set. Is there anything wrong with this idea...I mean, they couldn't be worth less than they are already, right?
Maybe I'll do that then, it sounds like fun...unless someone can give me a good reason why I shouldn't. :kewl:
I don't think there is anything wrong with it. The only possible objection would be if anyone thought that future technology would produce some method of determining the date without damaging the coin. In that case, waiting might be preferable because someone might be interested in a dateless coin that could be certified as to date and mintmark through some other method.
The only problem I have with it is the same one I have with cleaning coins - what happens when you are done with them or pass them on ? While you may not ever try to take advanatge of someone by selling them a cleaned coin or a coin treated with Nic-A-Date - without telling them up front - there are plenty of others who will. We have so many, many problem coins on the market as it is that are sold to unknowledgeable and inexperienced collectors for the full market value of a problem free coin - I just hate to see any more of them produced. That's how we got in this mess to begin with.
Its very obvious when done, so not really cheating anybody. I'd save it for mintmarked coins, personally.
Nice dateless Buffaloes do sell for 15 or 20 cents apiece. After the acid bath, though, I imagine they are only worth 5 cents.
exactly why I say do it with the D and S coins. You can often find one that goes for say $30 in Good, and "restore" the date with acid, and get maybe $3 for it on a bidboard or something. I wouldn't do it to a P mint , to get a 1936.
