How to restore a date on a dateless Standing Liberty Quarter
BUFFNIXX
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Nic a date for restoring dates on nickel coinage (buffalo and liberty heads) has been around for over 50 years. I can remember there being a similar product to nic-a-date that worked on silver coins the same way as nic-a-date worked on nickels. Anyone ever heard of that or know of another way to restore the dates on dateless silver coins. Was just wondering but I do remember seeing that other product which if I remember correctly came in a little bottle same size as the nicadate.
Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
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Yes-I remember it as you describe it but trying to find a bottle would be a real challenge. I don't know for sure but I think it was sulfuric acid.
Nitric acid is used for testing gold ("the acid test") but I'm not sure if it would work on silver though.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I do not remember anything that would restore dates on silver coins and I have been around a long time. I might be wrong, but there was a post once where somebody said it wasn't possible on silver as silver was a softer metal.
I used to have a bottle of this stuff 55 years ago so I know it existed.
In fact, as a stupid kid I used it on a 1921 SL 25c that had only the ones showing so it would have a full date. It worked and didn't show the stain seen on the nickels.
I tried acetone for 15 minutes then mineral sprits then second mineral sprits pat dry on a Buffalo but the date was probable too far gone did bring out fab shine. I will make a HOBO with it now. But I heard this technique works.
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Acetone and mineral spirits have no affect on metal, they are solvents, not acids. You can leave a coin indefinitely in acetone and it will be fine.
Collector, occasional seller
@CHrisH821 that explains a lot Thanks. Guess we will leave the acetone for the nails
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It is very good at removing oils, PVC, and other junk from coins. Just make sure it is pure acetone.
Collector, occasional seller
Seriously? What's next the dog? Wife?
The testing acid for gold testing is too strong for date restoration, I tried it even with the weaker 10k and it burned it up quickly. (nickel that is , I don't think anything works on silver)
If you use 10k acid, you better be quick!
Sure they do. Throw some acid on em!
The stuff I had definitely DID work. That was long ago and I can't remember what it was called or what it was. The same company that made nic-a-date made the stuff for silver, too.
I definitely remember the product. It left the date kind of in a smokey haze and u had to apply clear nail polish to keep it because it would wipe right off. U could see the date though but just barely.
That's the way I remember it, too.
I do not recall anything for silver... that would be interesting since silver coins are 90% silver and the reaction to an acid would more likely obliterate the date further...unless, you could get a substance that reacts only with copper and not at all with silver... that could possibly work...My chemistry knowledge is very old, I will have to do some research. Cheers, RickO