SURPRIZE...it's not a Lincoln. Still one of my fav coins. It's gold only on the high points in the center. Enjoy!
Not heat toned! I took this out of an orginal, sealed box my Grandfather gave me. It was in an unopened shipping box directly from the Mint. Nobody else has love for my Jeff? I figured at least a couple Jeff collectors would enjoy it.
I'm curious... I've seen this distinctive yellowish toning/coloring on Jeffersons before... would you and anyone else interested mind entertaining a thought I had? I've heard that in the minting process of Jeffersons, the planchets undergo several rounds of chemical baths and rinsing. I distinctly remember (I could be wrong) reading somewhere that these planchets, having gone through a specific mixture, return from the batch with a yellowish-tinge. It is my understanding that this tinge is later cleaned through a rinse later in the process, but could it be possible that some nickels get through unwashed, and are struck on these yellowish planchets? I know it sounds far-fetched, and judging by the localization of the toning on your specimen, I doubt this piece (or any others with this toning) could truly arise from such an oversight, but I have to say the premise seems relatively plausible? If anyone can give me some information on how this could not be so, I'd appreciate some direction. Sorry if this is off-topic; that is a pretty neat coin you have there, no doubt!
This is the natural toning progress that happens due to exposure to sulfide. It is not a residue left from the Mint. However, the spots on the reverse are some sort of carbon-based residue. My theory is that spots released the sulfide to tone the coin since it was a well-sealed and stored package. Of course, I moved it to an airtite some years ago...the pic is with the coin still in the airtite.
