I picked this up the other day becaused it looked interesting and i have never seen anything like it before. it is a very darked toned V nickel. The coin sppears smooth and I can't decided if someone used a dark varnish or if this is a natural toning. I've seen silver tone black, but this is almost a dark brown color. At least it seems so me, Mr. Color Blind. If this is natural, what could have caused it? I though about soaking it in acetone, but then I might end up with a normal looking coin. Thoughts anyone? Also picked up this Indian Head cent for $5 at a coin show. It can't be NT, but it sure is pretty Thanks, Mike
Several years ago I picked up a Jefferson nickel someone dropped on a relatively new blacktop parking lot. The sun was very hot and I have no idea how long it had been there (not over a year due to the date and when the lot was paved). Both sides were toned but the top was darker so the fumes from the blacktop may have been involved along with the light. Perhaps it was mostly heat; I don't know. The appearance was similar to this coin. This brings up the question as to what toning is natural and what is artificial. My coin struck me as beautiful (your opinion may vary) and gained its color as part of a natural sequence of loss and recovery. Had I taken a roll of new nickels out and positioned them for the purpose of inducing tone, it would be artificial. Coin collectors can define such terms any way they choose and many people make a living buying and selling tones. To me the difference between AT and NT is a bit artificial in itself. Tone is a result of exposure to pollutants, heat and time. Coins tone differently in different parts of the world and it makes a difference if they are in an air conditioned bank vault of a 100 plus degree parking lot. Don't clean the nickel. If you don't like it, trade it to someone who does. Yes, I know the coin is damaged and worth about 5 cents. That is not the question here.
Looks like a painted coin. But to the question of dark coins, especially if they are nickels, an improperly annealed planchet could cause it. This was common in the 50's and 60's.
Don't plan on geting rid of it, or cleaning it. I bought it because it appealed to me. I was just interested in what could have caused the coloring. My first thought was varnish. I know a long time ago people used varnish as a way to preserve thier coins. Darn near impossible to get off. I have a VF 1834 Bust half dollar with residual varnish on it and it will never come off. Acetone just won't do it. Coin had already been dipped before I got it so someone tried that in the past.
