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 Using x-rays to determine date on slick buffalos?
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member


USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/03/2010 :  22:29:14  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
Has anyone tried this? I have read about chemicals like Nic-A-Date and vinegar that work really well, but damage the coin. It would be nice to determine the date without destroying the patina.

I happen to work at a software company with access to high-tech digital radiography equipment, and I happen to have found a dateless buffalo in my second box searched. So I'm going to test it out...

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8

Edited by - brian0918 on 07/03/2010 22:36:44

TXBullion
Penny Collector Member



374 Posts

Posted - 07/03/2010 :  22:36:51  Show Profile Send TXBullion a Private Message
Wow, not sure if thats farfetched but a really cool idea. Please let us know how it turns out
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uthminsta
1000+ Penny Miser Member



USA
1872 Posts

Posted - 07/03/2010 :  22:39:18  Show Profile Send uthminsta a Private Message
It would be a rather expensive way of finding out unless, like you said, you have access to it. Sounds fun. And can you see if my ankle is broken? :)

Come to the new and improved realcent: http://realcent.org
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member



USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/03/2010 :  22:43:38  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
TXBullion: We've done shots of pennies, and you can see all the details. And chemicals work by eating away the softer metals that have been rubbed around on the surface, while leaving alone the denser metal underneath (from the original strike). The difference in density should show up on an x-ray, although I'm not sure how clearly.

uthminsta: Haha... we actually do that regularly. One of our coworkers brought in his dog to take some shots on its leg.

We're all probably getting exposed to many times background radiation levels.

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8
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TXBullion
Penny Collector Member



374 Posts

Posted - 07/03/2010 :  22:52:28  Show Profile Send TXBullion a Private Message
maybe you can create a new service for real centers and others. I do suspect it would be worth it to do a batch at a time if this process does identify . Just like all the people who hold the 82s until they get a ryedale (or scale)
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member



USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/03/2010 :  23:04:23  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
You would think PCGS might want to offer something like this - they could include an "official radiograph" in the slab to positively identify it.

"You can't see the D, but it's there!"

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8

Edited by - brian0918 on 07/03/2010 23:05:58
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Roadrunner
Penny Collector Member



USA
413 Posts

Posted - 07/05/2010 :  09:09:15  Show Profile Send Roadrunner a Private Message
Nice idea! I hope all goes well!
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misteroman
Administrator



USA
2565 Posts

Posted - 07/05/2010 :  13:52:43  Show Profile Send misteroman a Private Message
I use the nic a date and if you do it quick enough and just the right amount you can actually get it viewable enough to read without the stain. others look horrible

Buying CU cents!!!! Paying 1.2 unlimited amounts wanted. Can pick up if near Ohio area.
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uthminsta
1000+ Penny Miser Member



USA
1872 Posts

Posted - 07/05/2010 :  14:32:52  Show Profile Send uthminsta a Private Message
misteroman, i wondered about that. man i've seen SOOOO many of the ugly stained nic-a-date coins, i thought there must be something better. i certainly hope the xray process or SOMETHING else effective comes up soon. apparently it's just too much of a temptation for people, wondering if they have a 13S or 21S or whatever the key dates are...

Come to the new and improved realcent: http://realcent.org
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member



USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/05/2010 :  14:58:27  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
I'll be testing it out tomorrow. I'm starting to think it's unlikely to work, simply because the change in density is probably so slight. We'll see...

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8
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wayne1956
Penny Pincher Member



177 Posts

Posted - 07/06/2010 :  06:52:55  Show Profile Send wayne1956 a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by misteroman

I use the nic a date and if you do it quick enough and just the right amount you can actually get it viewable enough to read without the stain. others look horrible



How much do you use and how quick do you remove it?
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member



USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/06/2010 :  09:27:04  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
I only have two buffalos to test with - one with a date, and one without. The one with a date, I can get to clearly show the date in the x-ray. The one without a date, I was not able to get the date to show. However, maybe Nic-A-Date wouldn't have worked on it, either. I will need to see if I have any other buffalos, or get some more. The one I am testing is very slick.

I may also get some Nic-A-Date, as a comparison test.

Compare 1927:



No Date:



(Note: the latter image is with a much better sensor than the first one, so produces a more detailed image)

I just need more examples, to determine if this will be possible.

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8

Edited by - brian0918 on 07/06/2010 10:42:12
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Spikeanator6982
Penny Sorter Member



USA
99 Posts

Posted - 07/06/2010 :  12:49:45  Show Profile Send Spikeanator6982 a Private Message
interesting how you can see the "United States of America" from the other side on both but cant see the date. Is the dateless one slick on both sides?

edited because I can't type very well :)

Edited by - Spikeanator6982 on 07/06/2010 17:54:10
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member



USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/06/2010 :  13:13:31  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
No, "US of A" is not a high surface feature like the date, so it doesn't get worn off as easily as the date. I don't have any other buffalos, but may have someone on the forum who is willing to send me a couple to test.

If anyone has any partial dates that they want me to test, send me a PM.

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8

Edited by - brian0918 on 07/06/2010 13:14:23
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Roadrunner
Penny Collector Member



USA
413 Posts

Posted - 07/06/2010 :  15:40:00  Show Profile Send Roadrunner a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by Spikeanator6982

interesting how you can see the "United States off America" from the other side on both bu cant see the date. Is the dateless one slick on both sides?



This made me laugh That's a pretty funny typo.
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Spikeanator6982
Penny Sorter Member



USA
99 Posts

Posted - 07/06/2010 :  17:52:35  Show Profile Send Spikeanator6982 a Private Message
thanks guys..lol didn't notice it.
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TXBullion
Penny Collector Member



374 Posts

Posted - 07/06/2010 :  19:52:48  Show Profile Send TXBullion a Private Message
Id be willing to send you a couple of dateless buffalos and and additional 50 cents so you could mail them back to me In the spirit of science why not?! You may be on to something and Im convinced these are key dates Can you PM your addy, thanks
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member



USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/06/2010 :  20:59:29  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
The buffalos must have "herd" my call. I found another one in my $100 CWR today! It's a partial date - I believe it says 1919, but will zap some x-rays tomorrow to see what it tells me.

We also have some great macro cameras at work. If the x-rays produce really clear results, I'll try to post a comparison of a real photo and a radiograph.

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8

Edited by - brian0918 on 07/06/2010 21:08:27
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member



USA
2164 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2010 :  07:30:44  Show Profile Send wolvesdad a Private Message
Wow, this is a fun thread!

I sold a 'possible' rare date Barber quarter (1912 or 1913 s, can't remember off hand) on ebay for $25 or so. Even though it was quite hard to see if it was a 12 or 13. Xray or good macro cameras may have been able to show for sure!

"May your percentages ever increase!"
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member



USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2010 :  07:53:38  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
Darn. I tried it on the "1919", which I can barely make out, and the x-ray image didn't show anything. Part of the issue is there is a lot of interference from the stamped image on the back of the coin.

We don't have any 3D x-ray imaging devices here - those might be better for showing the change in density throughout the coin, potentially allowing you to disregard the back half.

This method would probably work best on coins where the date is stamped on a spot that doesn't overlap with any design on the back of the coin.

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8

Edited by - brian0918 on 07/07/2010 07:55:11
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member



USA
2164 Posts

Posted - 07/08/2010 :  01:37:56  Show Profile Send wolvesdad a Private Message
aawwwYou must be logged in to see this link. That was a very cool idea! I was really rooting for you!!

"May your percentages ever increase!"
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member



USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/08/2010 :  09:54:54  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
TXBullion is sending me a couple more buffalos to test. We'll see what it turns up...

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member



USA
2164 Posts

Posted - 07/10/2010 :  02:54:20  Show Profile Send wolvesdad a Private Message
Let us know! I hope you can get some positive results from the test. Lots of fun either way, I'm sure.

"May your percentages ever increase!"
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misteroman
Administrator



USA
2565 Posts

Posted - 07/11/2010 :  22:56:47  Show Profile Send misteroman a Private Message
I actually use a tooth pic to do it and put it on for about 30 second increments then wash off with cold water

Buying CU cents!!!! Paying 1.2 unlimited amounts wanted. Can pick up if near Ohio area.
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member



USA
2164 Posts

Posted - 07/12/2010 :  02:48:06  Show Profile Send wolvesdad a Private Message
can you use another acid? anything readily available? Where can I get Nicadate from? (Ebay!?)

"May your percentages ever increase!"
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brian0918
Penny Collector Member



USA
315 Posts

Posted - 07/12/2010 :  08:38:33  Show Profile  Send brian0918 an AOL message Send brian0918 a Private Message
I got a bottle of Nic-A-Date from eBay for $7.80 with free shipping. I'm going to try misteroman's method, although I might start out with shorter time intervals, to be cautious.

"The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." -- Ayn Rand

Searched: $2230 Nickels; Liberty: 1; Buffalo: 4; War: 20; 2009: 2; 2010D: 8
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