Buying a domain, Keeping "Created On" date?

Can I keep the "created on" date when buying an existing domain?

[inblosam]

A friend of mine is purchasing a new (and expensive) domain from afternic from an auction. The domain has a "created on" date of 1998 (expires 2015). When the purchase is complete and the domain is transferred, will the "created on" date be preserved? Is there a way to make sure that it is preserved?

[gpmgroup]

The date will remain unless the name is deleted and then recreated. A simple transfer does not reset the creation date.