What do you do with worn coins like this?

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Ronald70

Joined: 19 Jul 2013
Posts: 205

Posted: 17 Jun 2018, 22:53 #

Hi, I have some worn coins like the buffalo nickel on the pic where you can not identify the date anymore. No way to put it in my collection. What do you do with those coins?

pearcem12

Joined: 14 Jul 2017
Posts: 220

Posted: 17 Jun 2018, 23:28 #

Quote: "Ronald70"Hi, I have some worn coins like the buffalo nickel on the pic where you can not identify the date anymore. No way to put it in my collection. What do you do with those coins?

I have a large jar where it all goes in - maybe one day i will go back through them all but it's mainly junk pennies and very worn coins with no visible date.

Silver though if you have quite a few bits may be worth selling for scrap and using the money to reinvest.

ken6528

Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 1412

Posted: 17 Jun 2018, 23:51 #

There is an acid you can buy that will bring the date on buffalo nickels back out. It does ruin the coin some but with no date it is not worth anything now.

Mr. Midnight Catalogue referee

Joined: 10 Mar 2017
Posts: 4329

Posted: 18 Jun 2018, 00:06 #

sell them as a lot on ebay. Ask for 99 cents, maybe they will go higher.
Some people who make jewelry or art will like them. that is the 'highest and best use', I think.

Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac

harryg

Closed account

Posted: 18 Jun 2018, 01:01 #

I donate coins like this to my local coin club where they have a kids table where they can get coins for free. This is how we try to spark interest in coin collecting in youngsters.

CassTaylor

Closed account

Posted: 18 Jun 2018, 02:22 #

Quote: "ken6528"There is an acid you can buy that will bring the date on buffalo nickels back out. It does ruin the coin some but with no date it is not worth anything now.

Usually I wouldn't buy/keep a coin like this... but if you're going to I suggest doing this. You might as well, anyway.

SquareRootLolly

Joined: 7 Oct 2017
Posts: 914

Posted: 18 Jun 2018, 06:29 #

Numismatist uk

Joined: 2 Jan 2018
Posts: 887

Posted: 18 Jun 2018, 17:44 #

Quote: "CassTaylor"

Quote: "ken6528"There is an acid you can buy that will bring the date on buffalo nickels back out. It does ruin the coin some but with no date it is not worth anything now.

Usually I wouldn't buy/keep a coin like this... but if you're going to I suggest doing this. You might as well, anyway.

I think its called nicadate (not sure about the spelling of it)

'We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.'
Sir Winston Churchill

ken6528

Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 1412

Posted: 18 Jun 2018, 18:17 #

Yes it is Nic-a-date. It is for sale on eBay. You can google it and find YouTube videos on how it works.
I bought a bottle and will post pictures here on how good it works.

Kipsley

Joined: 3 Feb 2018
Posts: 156

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 04:51 #

I bought one of these "no date" indian heads back when I had no idea what I was buying, I just liked it. Now I know a bit more. I keep it in my collection next to another Indian Head that does have a date you can see. It has become a great conversation piece as it's a good example of how a coin can be minted just all wrong (Laughs) with something as the date being so high it wears away quickly with use.

Collector of Third Reich coins (1933 - 1946), and Australian coins.
Not swapping at this time.

numinis

Joined: 19 Aug 2015
Posts: 625

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 07:58 #

I would put it to my swap list, hoping to exchange for a similar coin that I don't have.

ūūūūū

Choucas

Closed account

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 10:33 #

I put the worn, dirty and damaged coins I got in a box and when I do a garage sale I sell them as a lot.

Subha Barua

Joined: 8 Dec 2016
Posts: 676

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 15:49 #

I don't throw them away, I don't actually throw any of them. They are still like real coins if they are still slightly eligible and stay in my collection. But some coins with worn dates and complete illegibility annoy me a lot.

Trp

Closed account

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 16:38 #

It is fun to try to recognize lowballs and I keep them if I don't have the km#. I usually buy and sell bulklots and I try to clean them out of very bad shape modern coins. So usually I just throw them into metal recycling or send to Leftovercurrency.com. I don't think that many collectors want to pay for the weight of road killed pennies.

MonaSeaclaid

Joined: 21 Jan 2016
Posts: 1007

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 16:58 #

Quote: "harryg"I donate coins like this to my local coin club where they have a kids table where they can get coins for free. This is how we try to spark interest in coin collecting in youngsters.

I love that! So cool!

I don't get rid of mine, I love a lot of coins that others consider "junky". So much history to be told. They often end up in the albums as if they were in pristine condition.

aaronmgd

Joined: 9 Jan 2013
Posts: 892

Posted: 21 Jun 2018, 06:15 #

My brother in law is a 3rd grade school teacher. I give him these types of coins and he gives them out as incentives to his students to try and do better. Since the start of 2016 I donated 216 coins to this cause. He claims the students love it and really challenge themselves to do better. The only requirement for the student is to read up about the country of the coin they get on wikipedia. I also give him postage stamps. Have given about 150 over the past few years.
This practice makes me happy and I hope it creates an interest for these 3rd graders.
Aaron

I sell my Duplicate or Un-Needed coins on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/str/coinsandmorenj.

Cerulean

Joined: 1 Nov 2010
Posts: 1915

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 20:19 #

I save such coins in a jar, coins too worn out, corroded or damaged to identify beyond type.

They are good for:
* gifts to include in swaps
* gifts for children (to start the next generation of collectors)
* filler for bulk lots
* scrap metal
* spending (if able)
* trade items for geocaching
* boardgame accessories

yvon

Joined: 9 Jun 2017
Posts: 1804

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 21:46 #

I put a lot of old and worn coins in an antique-looking vase and burried it sneakily in my brothers garden, who is also a coin collector.... was big fun at small cost....

...you can run, but you can't hide...

CassTaylor

Closed account

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 21:48 #

Quote: "yvon"I put a lot of old and worn coins in an antique-looking vase and burried it sneakily in my brothers garden, who is also a coin collector.... was big fun at small cost....

Has he found it yet?

yvon

Joined: 9 Jun 2017
Posts: 1804

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 21:52 #

Yes, you should have seen his face. But he really appreciated the joke.

...you can run, but you can't hide...

ALLRED1950

Joined: 2 Jul 2012
Posts: 5049

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 00:22 #

Well I took an old 3 ring note book. And use my old coin pages. And made a dead coin collection. I have a page for un id coins. then have a page of each country. The UK has a page just for penny's and one for 1/2 penny's
Coins like this

and here is one iam still looking for what country, but don't have the time now

And she getting full.

It is, what it is, or is it.

Myeackle

Joined: 25 Jun 2014
Posts: 1557

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 00:33 #

Quote: "ALLRED1950"and here is one iam still looking for what country, but don't have the time now

And she getting full.

that looks like one of the old Irish half pennies or penny depending on size

Matt

ALLRED1950

Joined: 2 Jul 2012
Posts: 5049

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 00:45 #

It looks to be a 1/2 penny .

It is, what it is, or is it.

radrick007

Joined: 7 Feb 2011
Posts: 3048

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 00:46 #

Quote: "Myeackle"

Quote: "ALLRED1950"and here is one iam still looking for what country, but don't have the time now

And she getting full.
that looks like one of the old Irish half pennies or penny depending on size

Matt

Yes, I was just about to say that looks like an Irish harp, is there anything to see on the other side?

Just because you can't see it ... doesn't mean it isn't there - Anon.

Former coin and banknote catalogue referee.

ALLRED1950

Joined: 2 Jul 2012
Posts: 5049

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 01:04 #

Not much.But can see alittle of head. Thinking it a George III.

It is, what it is, or is it.

ALLRED1950

Joined: 2 Jul 2012
Posts: 5049

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 01:17 #

Another one goes in my dead coin book. He will be in with a few other Ireland coins. Even a euro 1 cent coin.

It is, what it is, or is it.

ALLRED1950

Joined: 2 Jul 2012
Posts: 5049

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 01:27 #

Here is my other George III Ireland 1/2 penny

just enough face to see he is facing right

Iam really not sure why I keep them. It fun to ID them. But I do like them.

It is, what it is, or is it.

ALLRED1950

Joined: 2 Jul 2012
Posts: 5049

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 01:42 #

Here are some of my dead US nickel
Shield nickel 1866=1883 all you can see is the bottom of the 5

And one my many V nickels a 1908 or 03

I know they have no value but keep just the same

It is, what it is, or is it.

Bas S Warwick

Joined: 21 Sep 2015
Posts: 217

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 05:03 #

I have many obliterated coins, but I like to hang on to them,
try to ID, fumble with them any enjoy their texture and history.

I believe this to be a Geo III UK Penny 1806-1859

Swapping makes a change!

numinis

Joined: 19 Aug 2015
Posts: 625

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 07:01 #

Wonderful genuine coins!

ūūūūū

CassTaylor

Closed account

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 07:54 #

I usually don't buy coins so battered I have trouble telling it's type... if I receive any of them as part of a lot or something I chuck them out if they're worn smooth, or give them away.

An exception might be made if it's still visible that the coin is a scarce type that I wouldn't be able to afford/find in better condition. That's how I got my Fukien 10 Cents, 1912 (first) issue.

ALLRED1950

Joined: 2 Jul 2012
Posts: 5049

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 15:12 #

Yes Bas S Warwick the fun is trying to find out what they where. I have a bag I just pull those one out. I get many in lots and people send them to me. To get a good home. And yes I put them in flips and put in a book. Or my Dead coin collection.

It is, what it is, or is it.

Moneytane

Joined: 28 Jan 2014
Posts: 3745

Posted: 14 Feb 2020, 19:18 #

Quote: "CassTaylor"

Quote: "yvon"I put a lot of old and worn coins in an antique-looking vase and burried it sneakily in my brothers garden, who is also a coin collector.... was big fun at small cost....

Has he found it yet?

In 1999 I was on an Archaeology field school with my uni class and one of the other students buried a 20 cent piece a centimetre or so under where I was digging out a prehistoric eel rack (c.1800), and I got so excited thinking it was a Victorian coin - imagine my face when it said Elizabeth II, New Zealand 1986!

The guy got told off with ruining the context for playing a practical joke and I got to keep the coin which was still legal tender then

I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society

Frenchlover Catalogue referee

Joined: 16 Jul 2013
Posts: 13623

Posted: 14 Feb 2020, 23:26 #

I keep all worn coins not suitable for swap and I make proselitism

I hide an old coin at the edge of the sidewalk in front of a bar so that the passerby finds it and says oh! what the hell is it ? a rusty 50 Para Yugoslav! may it be a treasure

and wham ... he begins to collect worldcoins

Referee of south atlantic islands

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