nic-a-date recipe help.

Any hydrogen peroxide in the Nic-a-date formula is for foaming and cleaning purposes, not to differentially dissolve the metal. That is the ferric chloride solution ( use to be available at radio shack or places with PC board material). If you can't figure out the reaction, either buy commercial, or leave the coin alone. Any old acid will not do as well as Nic-a-date and will damage the coin much more . To me Nic-a-date is similar to AT, as the coin is chemically doctored to appear possibly more valuable with a fuzzy date and ruined surface than no date. IMO .

 

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Oh, well! Though peroxide might be worth a try. It sure brightens Lincolns - the way you don't want the to be bright.

 

thank you all for your helpful advice. im doing a couple experiments (research first before mixing chemicals, of course) my next test is to see what happens to a nickel when brought into contact with a H2O2-salt mixture. (already looked it up, its safe)
I just want to see what happens to a jeff, not a buff.

science and coins, who knew?

 

Sure, it's acid. It will absolutely destroy certain things it comes in contact with, especially in an undiluted version. I've used it though, and if stored properly and diluted, we're talking about a drop on the date area of a Buffalo Nickel. Context is everything. Nic-A-Date is technically horrible for the coin, but people are going to use it anyway.

 

I'm just really reluctant to pass along a recipe like this to someone who hasn't been indoctrinated in lab safety (eye protection, acid-to-water, etc), and I mean more than just reading footnotes on a Web page.

Sure, anybody reading will probably only be able to get 3% peroxide, and mixing hardware-store HCl with five volumes of that will yield something fairly tractable. I just have a nightmare vision of somebody finding the same pool-supply store I did, and bringing home a gallon of 27% peroxide. NOT the sort of thing you want to drop oxidized metal into.

 

all I got is %3 hydrogen peroxide. if you have any more of dat %27 stuff, put salt in it, out side.

 

I hope the bomb squad is on alert.

 

hehe, na, itll just make "elephant toothpaste" look it up, its pretty neat.

 

Ive had a buff sitting in distilled vinger for about 4 days now just to see what it does i was barely able to see the 2 the vinger has slightly braught out the last number for days it looked lile a 8 today it looks like a four. So i figure 1924 as of right now

 

One of the advantages/disadvantages of vinegar is that it is slow. There is a whole thread on its use (and nic-a-date) about 3 years ago, but I cannot find it now. What I liked most about vinegar is that not only do you get a date, but you get bison's head, Indians details and all without a stain like nic=a-date.

 

that's why I prefer it over ni-a-date.

btw, the v nickel I have is a 1886, sadly, not an 85'
but still, the third rarest v nickel.
it is worth about $50, I think, maby a little more.
ill see what I can get for it.

 

It seems to be making the details more flat and bringing out black around the desing edges in some spots

 

nope, my photographery could use a hand, that's all.

 

Er, I don't think it is worth $50. Checking ebay completed listings, I see coins that are in the same shape as yours or better going for $10-20.

 

the coin dealer I visit most frequently says he will buy any coin I have (as long as its silver or pre 1960) for a little under Redbook pricing.

 

Does redbook list prices for coins in a grade of P-01?
For reference, I would think a problem-free G condition V nickel would look like this:
http://www.50eastchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/1912-D-G4.jpg


Seriously, though...if your dealer pays you just a little under redbook, take it. But just don't expect to get much from it. I'd like to hear how much you do get, when/if you sell it.

 

The Redbook doesn't give pricing for restored-date coins.

I see one restored 1886 that got $21.25 on eBay. Still not a bad return for your investment, but personally, I'd hang on to the coin instead.

 

Dosent nic a date wear off in a short time frame

 

NO! It dissolves the metal - preferentially in the fields rather than the devises. It will never "wear off", although the coin could recirculate and wear the date off again. It is just like the police "raising" the serial number on a gun with acid.

 

Can you please post a photo?

I am still confused as to how/why you think dealers will always pay more than what the same coin would fetch on ebay, but you are likely in for a big disappointment, even if this guy treats you very well. There are two completed listings on ebay for similar "restored" coins ranging from $15-$21, and if I remember correctly, both display more remaining detail. If this guy offers $10 you should take it and run, but even this is far too much IMO.