I bought this "lime green" Proof Buffalo Nickel a few months ago. This coin has been previously posted on CoinTalk and seemed to generate a lot of controversy about whether it was naturally toned or artificially toned. I myself thought that it was possible it was AT'd although I just liked it so much I was willing to buy it anyway. About 10 days ago I found and bought a green-toned Proof Lincoln cent. What struck me when I got the Proof Lincoln in hand was how similar the toning color was on the Lincoln to the toning color on the Buffalo. Since nickels contain 75% copper, I would think toning patterns on Nickels and Copper Cents could tend to run in tandem. In any case, seeing this green-toned Lincoln Cent has made me think my lime green Buffalo might indeed be naturally toned. Or at least it makes me think the toning on the Proof Buffalo might not be so far out in left field as I originally thought. I found it interesting that I was able to get a toning "confirmation" from another coin like this -- these 2 coins were bought months apart, from different sellers, that live about 2000 miles apart.
Yeah the wonders of lime Jello. I'm just razzin ya But on a serious note, bought 4 months or 4 years apart, bought next door to each other or on opposite coasts - that doesn't prove or mean anything. And as you already know there is no way to prove it one way or the other. All that matters is - do you like them ? For what it's worth, to me they both look legit
They're both beautiful coins Winged. It's interesting to me also that the toning on both would be so similiar. The fact that you bought each from a different seller in geographic areas so far apart helps make the case for natural toning. If it were otherwise (same seller) it would make you think twice about it being NT. I personally feel as though they're toned naturally. For want of a more scientific explanation, they just "look real" to me. Bruce
Thanks for the comments GDJMSP and BRandM. Yes, lime jello! Now that reminds me of the 1960's. After buying my Buffalo greenie, I kept studying Buffalo's on auction sites, looking for a similar toning color, and finally stumbled on this PGCS MS65 Buffalo that is in a similar green and strawberry pink family. Granted this is a business strike and the toning color is not nearly as strong, but that might be due to the business strike vs. proof strike surface. It was nice to see another Buffalo that had a similar green and pink color signature. I think this is what people mean when they say "try become an expert in a particular series". With enough time viewing tons of coins of a series, you start to get a feel for what could be natural and what probably isn't.
They both look nice to me and they are slabbed which is all the confirmation I need. Did you buy it slabbed and as a proof? Also, I have a post 1965 dime that has green toning similar to that, it's on of my favorites.
I'm a sucker for green copper whether it's in copper form or nickel form. I love 'em both and you are fortunate to have them.:smile
Your going under the assumption that since both coins contain copper, 95% in the cent and 75% in the five cent piece, that they would oxidize resulting in the same coloration. You did not take into account the 25% nickel content in the 5 cent proof piece makes that coin way more corrosion-resistant to oxidation as opposed to the proof cent. These metal amalgams may appear consistent percentage wise, but metallurgically they are far, far apart. I'm not a metallurgist, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Thanks robec, I love that LHC. It's hard to beat green on copper! LOL, I like the Holiday Inn comment, BR549! Those commercials are funny. In terms of the possibility of Nickels toning green, I also found and bought a PCGS graded nickel about a month ago that was deemed naturally toned by PCGS that has quite a bit of green on the obverse. Granted the Jefferson is a business strike and not a proof, and it's not quite the same shade of green as the Buffalo, but green it is.
They come in all sorts of color. I kinda learning how to do this. I have Buffs in so many different colors it's amazing and yes all natural and graded by either pcgs or ngc.
That nickel looks rather familiar, perhaps it is the obverse tone pattern that looks familiar. Looks great to me as I have really started liking toned coins when the colors are special...
