Buffalo Dates

[thudson]

Just wondering about dateless buffalo nickles. Do you think that putting the nic a date on these affects the value to the good or to the bad? The definition of a buff in good condition is (lettering and date readable) or something to that effect. So if you can now read the date does that raise a worthless coin to possibly having some value? I know that dealers probably have no intrest in these that have had the date raised so you can read it but wouldn't you rather have a 1920 buff than a no date one? I did this to a coin that turned out to be a 1914 worth about 15 - 20 $ in good condition. I know alot of people would have a fit about putting acid on a coin , but it was practically worthless before so what would be the harm . So do you think this coin would be worth say 5 $ now that you can read the date even though it is below the grade of good? Just a few random thoughts and questions. What do you think?

 

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[waseeker]

I had 4 rolls of dateless buffalo nickels that I got at my bank a couple of years ago. I used nic-a-date on them because I wanted to know the dates. When I tried to sell them to a local dealer he wouldn't take them because of the acid. Had I left them alone he would have given me 9 cents each. They generally wind up being used in jewelry. I simply put them in a lot, posted them on eBay as acid date nickels and sold them at a small profit.

 

[thudson]

That is about what I figured .I suppose for 9cents apiece I would just nic a date them and keep them. Being no date they aren't worth much to begin with , but I would want to know the dates anyway. Thanks for the reply. Tyler

 

[gregl01]

They're worthless without dates and you may actually find you have a better date coin. Good luck
Greg

 

[nc-joe]

Do NOT use nic a date on any that you KNOW are of a certain date. For example, if you KNOW it is a 1913 S type 1, you will reduce the value.

For all others, I myself use nic a date to restore them. Yes, it deminishes the value, because even jewelry makers do not like the "stain" left behind, but if you are looking to fill some holes in your book, go for it.

Don't forget, you could always spend all those 1936 nickels after to pull the date back up. Roll em up, and turn them in at the bank, some kid will feel like a million bucks when he finds one!