In most cases it's very difficult to recover the date on a coin that's so heavily worn. Buffalo nickels are one of the few exceptions. You can buy a mild acid called Nic-A-Date that will etch away some of the metal to reveal a kind of shadow of the date below the metal's surface. However, once you've done that the coin is damaged and is only worth face value no matter how old it is.
Nic-A-Date works because up till 1925 the date field was raised above the rest of the coin's design. That combined with the intrinsic hardness of nickel metal caused the metal making up the numbers to flow a bit below the coin's surface when struck. Nic-A-Date etches away some of the flow to reveal the date.
Dateless coins are often called "culls" and are of very little interest to collectors. If it's a silver coin you might at least be able to sell it for its metal value.
August 13, 2009 The only silver coin produced by the US Mint in 1799 was the silver dollar. Although it had no denomination on it, the word "LIBERTY" was on the obverse side of the coin. If your coin has no "Liberty", then it is worn so much the word has been rubbed off or it is not a US coin. If it is worn badly then the value would probably be about $600. If it is not worn then, probably, it is not a US coin.
With the date worn off, it's worth maybe 10 cents.
AnswerThe 1930 buffalo nickel coin can be sold for up to $1950 if the horn on the buffalo is clearly identifiable. If not then it takes about $200 off price ($1750).More specificallyThe above answer applies only to high-grade coins minted in San Francisco.Look below the words FIVE CENTS to see if there's a small S. That's the mint mark for San Francisco.Approximate retail values as of 11/2009:No mint mark:Very worn condition - $1Moderately worn - $2Slightly worn - $5Almost no wear - $20Uncirculated - $31-450 depending on quality"S" mint mark:Very worn condition - $1Moderately worn - $2Slightly worn - $4Almost no wear - $30Uncirculated - $40-15,000 depending on quality
No, but due to where the date was and how high it was raised, many buffalo nickels have had their dates worn off through circulation.
Likely the date has worn off, but it's still 5 cents.
Then it is probably some type of token or medallion and not a coin.
If it has no date, it means that it got worn off.
If the wear on it is that significant, it reduces the coin's value to less than a dollar. However, if the date is still visible and it's a rare date, it could still have some additional value.
It's more likely that the 1 in 1799 has worn off. Without knowing the denomination of coin, it's impossible to say how much it's worth.
There are actually two varieties of this coin: the "large six" and "small six", but their values are not too far off from each other. If it's really worn (details are worn nearly flat), it really doesn't have an collector's value - but if it's in reasonable condition (i.e. you can still clearly make out the date), it can retail for up for $30.
Please post a new question with the coin's date and whether there's a small S or D under the words FIVE CENTS on the back.If the date's worn off, it unfortunately has value only as a filler coin - maybe 10 cents or so.
It may be best to consult a professional coin restorer or numismatist for restoring the date on an Indian head nickel where it has been completely worn off. Attempting to restore it yourself may further damage the coin's value. Professional restorers can use specialized techniques to reveal the date without harming the coin's integrity.
Buffalo nickels had a design defect that caused the date to wear off quickly. Unfortunately there's nothing you can do to recover the date without further damaging the coin.The only option is a mild acid called Nic-A-Date that can etch away some of the top metal to possibly recover a readable date from metal that flowed below the coin's surface under the pressure of being struck in the coin press. The acid will destroy any collectible value the coin might have had IF the date were visible, but dateless nickels are considered culls with a maximum value of 10 to 25 cents anyway. At least you can know the date without trashing a valuable coin.
If the date is worn, other clues could narrow it down. First check the design of the coin. That will be the first step. After that, look for a mint mark. The presence or lack of one can narrow down the possible dates.There are certain chemicals that can be used to reveal a worn date, but doing so reduces and potential collector value (though if the date is worn off, the value is already minimal).
There is no one answer, because the value depends on factors such as date, mint mark, and condition. The bare minimum value is 10 cents for one with the date worn off, and prices increase and vary from there.
Liberty is standing, not just her head, LOL! Please post a new question with the coin's date and whether there is a small S or D on the left hand pedestal near her feet. If the coin's date is worn off (a common problem with SLQ's) it's worth its silver content, about $2.00-2.50
August 13, 2009 The only silver coin produced by the US Mint in 1799 was the silver dollar. Although it had no denomination on it, the word "LIBERTY" was on the obverse side of the coin. If your coin has no "Liberty", then it is worn so much the word has been rubbed off or it is not a US coin. If it is worn badly then the value would probably be about $600. If it is not worn then, probably, it is not a US coin.