Help on this 1928 Buffalo Nickel

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by mikenoodle, Jun 9, 2016.

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  1. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I should have qualified my comment, yeah a coin without luster can tone, the common battleship grey for example, but they don't get colorful toning. And they can't, unless there is luster present.

    This why you very rarely see colorful toning on circulated coins - because the luster is gone. Yes, you might occasionally see bits and pieces of colorful luster here and there on circ coins, but if you look at therm, and think about it, it's always in the protected or semi-protected areas where wear has not destroyed the luster.

    Luster is necessary for colorful toning because colorful toning is only created by thin film interference and there can be no thin film interference if there is no luster.

    As for the copper, or copper coloring, being on the surface - if the coin was given a wash that's exactly where it would be.

    Now I'm not saying I'm absolutely right that the coin was washed, that's my opinion. And it is my opinion because I think that to be far more likely than that much copper being present on the surface of the coin because alloys just don't mix that way. Could they ? Yeah - but it would be a billion to 1 shot. Whereas a wash, from a coin doctor trying to get a polished coin that could not otherwise tone - to colorfully tone - by giving it a wash, that happens all the time.

    In other words, it's a probability thing. A billion to 1 - or a common occurrence ? Take your pick which is more likely.
     
    GDJMSP, Jun 11, 2016
    #21 + Quote Reply
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  3. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    I still disagree. I'll post some photos of F to VF Seated Liberty or Bust Half dollar coins with blue/orange album toning that reflects the light as if the coin had mint luster.
     
    Insider, Jun 13, 2016
    #22 + Quote Reply
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  4. SuperDave

    SuperDave Free the Cartwheels!

    It's not inconceivable that the polishing process - if that's what we're looking at - deposited the color on the coin.
     
    SuperDave, Jun 13, 2016
    #23 + Quote Reply
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  5. mgmgmg75

    mgmgmg75 Active Member

    I am not an expert on plating, but I do know some plating requires a thin layer of copper before a chrome plate is applied. Copper plated, chrome plated and then polished many times??
     
    mgmgmg75, Jun 13, 2016
    #24 + Quote Reply
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  6. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    Maybe it was first copper-plated. The second-plate is overlay. At any rate, it looks like it took a lot of abuse. You can't see that, I think you're off your noodle, Mike. :D
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2016
    eddiespin, Jun 13, 2016
    #25 + Quote Reply
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  7. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    mgmgmg75, that makes sense , the chrome plating got dull after a while,
    and the new? owner decided to give it a good polish
     
    Andres2, Jun 13, 2016
    #26 + Quote Reply
  8. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    I think that both of these are plausible.


    And agree with
    But are we missing the fact that this coin could have been touch with lotion from and older woman's fingers, many years ago and left to age.
    Thumb in the head dress and fore finger on the Bison?
     
    Pickin and Grinin, Jun 13, 2016
    #27 + Quote Reply
  9. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    :arghh::banghead::muted:
     
    Insider, Jun 14, 2016
    #28 + Quote Reply
  10. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    It took some looking but let me back up my opinion:

    This is a 100% original AU-58 Buffalo nickel with a copper streaked planchet. The copper is visible on the struck coin. If I wished to ruin this coin, I could dip it to make the copper color more contrasting with the nickel color.

    If I were to polish this coin SOME of the thinner copper "impurity" due to an incomplete mixture of the alloy layer IN THE PLANCHET may come off. :cigar:
     

    Attached Files:

    Insider, Jun 14, 2016
    #29 + Quote Reply
  11. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    I understand.
    Hey, is that the first pic you have posted?
    There is a lot of copper in that coin.

    I am going to say that as soon as I joined this Site.
    I used to here!
    Grading by Photo's is a fools game,
    Its a wager.

    A friendly.
    I said so,
    Ha ha!

    Is this coin gonna 'be evaluated'.
    In Hand?
     
    Pickin and Grinin, Jun 16, 2016
    #30 + Quote Reply
  12. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    If it Is ok with the Op. Can you give us a good Photo?
     
    Pickin and Grinin, Jun 16, 2016
    #31 + Quote Reply
  13. mikenoodle

    mikenoodle The Village Idiot Supporter

    Look at post #1 in this thread, there are two good pictures
     
    mikenoodle, Jun 16, 2016
    #32 + Quote Reply
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  14. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Or - find out that it's not copper at all, but merely copper colored on the surface.
     
    GDJMSP, Jun 16, 2016
    #33 + Quote Reply
  15. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    Sorry I didn't clarify. I meant @Insider 's
     
    Pickin and Grinin, Jun 16, 2016
    #34 + Quote Reply
  16. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    AU-58 Streaked Alloy.
     
    Insider, Jun 16, 2016
    #35 + Quote Reply
  17. Clawcoins

    Clawcoins Damaging Coins Daily

    I have to machine polish musical instrument keys. Form time to time one can easily polish past the nickel plate to the copper flash underneath it. machine polishing a coin I would think it would be easy to polish the nickel off the high spots.
     
    Clawcoins, Jun 16, 2016
    #36 + Quote Reply
  18. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    The key word is PLATING! The Buffalo nickel I posted is not plated. The copper was in the planchet. Frankly, the OP's coin is ALTERED one way or the other. Without the actual coin to examine...We are all just guessing.

    I'm done :muted:
     
    Insider, Jun 16, 2016
    #37 + Quote Reply
  19. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    Without the actual coin to examine...We are all just guessing.

    I'm done :muted:[/QUOTE]
    I agree.
     
    Pickin and Grinin, Jun 17, 2016
    #38 + Quote Reply
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