Buffalo Nickel no date

What should I do with this coin?

 

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Looks like raised ground. That would make it a 1913 variety 1.

 

thank you!!

 

It might be worth a drop of Nic-A-Date to see if there is a mint mark lurking on that mound.

 

how do I do that?

 

I wouldn't do it but here's a link!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1653987095...ASmi9x3DfkwVE1eK_Zi_7I2Fr6MtBIg4aAthdEALw_wcB

 

Keep it, give it to a kid and tell them to figure out what it is, spend it. Your nickel, your choice.

 

how come you wouldnt do it? will it effect the grading or value?

 

Throw it in a glass jar with white vinegar for a couple-three days and see if it turns up a partial date and/or mint mark. Just do it. It won't hurt it none.

 

You got lucky. The Type with the buffalo on a mound was only minted in 1913. Everything else from some 1913 through 1938 is the type 2 reverse.

Recommendation: buy and read a copy of A Guide Book of United States Coins, commonly referred to as the redbook. It's primarily an annual retail pricing guide, but it's filled with all kinds of other info, like basic grading, mint mark locations, mintages, weights, short history, on just about all US and colonial issues, proof sets, etc.

It's the kind of book where you can open to any random page, spend 5 min, and you'll learn something (note: it has almost nothing about errors). I would bet that just about every experienced collector on this site, that started collecting US coins, had one and used it when they were starting..it will be the best $15 you'll ever spend on the hobby

 

are you serious? I know if you use that in a penny, the penny's color will change

 

what do you think I should do with the coin if it were you? do you recommend using Nic-A-Date to find the mint on the coin?

 

Some people pay up to $.25 retail as they use no date Buffaloes to make jewelry. Or you can use Nic-A-Date to restore the date, that will however cause the coin to be damaged permanently.

 

There's no point in using Nic-A-Date or anything else to bring up the date on this coin; with the raised-ground reverse, it can only be 1913.

I can't tell from these photos whether it would be worth trying to raise a mint mark.

Well, it will hurt it, just not any more than it's already been hurt. A dateless Buffalo is pretty much a no-loss proposition; the only way etching would hurt its value is if there was already a visible mint mark. Even then, I'm not sure it would hurt its value.

I'm with @eddiespin on using white vinegar instead of Nic-A-Date (on coins where you can't already tell the date, unlike this one). It gives a uniform appearance to the coin, and brings up other detail as well. It still trashes the coin, but like I said, if it's dateless, it's already trashed. There's still a steady market for restored rare dates on eBay.

 

I'd spend it.

 

I got bags of no date buffaloes and as a lark I did submerge a handful in vinegar. It showed a date on about half of them and turned the nickels ghost white. I figure they were worth a nickel before. They are still worth a nickel….. But the reason I keep bags of them is to give them to kids hoping I may spark some numismatic interest.

 

Yes, he is serious about the white vinegar. It can react with the nickel but not like with a cent. If left too long in the vinegar the coin will become etched, giving it a clean but rough surface. Try it for a day first and see what happens. If nothing, try for another day. Either way, the coin will end up a details coin but you will or might end up knowing which Mint it came from. You already know it's a 1913. If you can raise a mint mark you can still use it as a filler coin until a better one comes along.

 

what would you do?

 

I can't speak for Jeff, but what is there to lose at this point. Your first photo shows someone already used something harsh, like a wire brush, in the date area. This is damaged no matter what you do. I would at least like to know which mint it came from it were mine.

 

I guess I will try the white vinegar. This coin is probably a AG or lower. Might as well and see which mint it came from. I'll post it once I find out if there is one.

1913 Variety 1 30,993,520
1913-D Variety 1 5,337,000
1913-S Variety 1 2,105,000