1959 Jefferson Nickel Improperly Annealed Black Beauty

1959 Jefferson Nickel Improperly Annealed Black Beauty

HOW
The distinctive and unique look of a black beauty comes from an improperly handled annealing process. Annealing is the process of heating up the planchet for it to be ready to be struck. The planchets are heated in a large furnace warmed by gas heaters to "relax" the metal alloy for the striking process. They are then rinsed to remove tarnish, which gives the nickel planchets the familiar shiny "BU" (Brilliant Uncirculated) finish.

HISTORY
At the Philadelphia Mint in 1959, a full batch of nickel planchets were left in the furnace too long during the annealing process. As a result the unique black appearance was created. In 1959 Baltmore used more nickels than any other city. Baltimore city received seven 15-ton shipments of nickels a year. There were 670 bags of nickels in each tractor-trailer load that backed up to the rear of the Federal Reserve Bank in Baltimore.

How To Tell Them
Note that color of these is not actually black but more of a dark gray.
The color must run all the way through the coin/planchet look at edges
Check any slight gouges, or nicks to make sure its not just another environmental damaged coin. They should also have luster.

The ones with red are acid/envornmental/dugged/damaged coins often confused with Improperly Annealed ones.

 

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Nice write up. Thanks for the information.
Question; Is 1959 the only year to look for a "Black Beauty" ?

Dave

 

Good write up. Thanks for posting.

 

Black Beauty I believe is a term for the 1959 Jefferson Nickels with Improperly Annealed Planchets.

There are several years and domination with Improperly Annealed Planchets.

I don't think they are called same nickname? not sure

Such as Eisenhower Dollars, State Quarters, Presidential Dollars, Sacajawea Dollars, Kennedy Halves, etc...

Btw TPG or third party grading services call them by different names. ANACS "Improperly Mixed Alloy", PCGS struck on "Sintered Planchets" and NGC "Improperly Annealed Planchets."

Not all Improperly Annealed Planchets can be any of a variety of colors from black to copper red.

 

Improperly annealed planchets exist in all coin denominations. I have personally handled Presidential Dollars, Eisenhower Dollars, Kennedy Half Dollars, and Jefferson Nickels.

Black Beauty was a name cooked up to sell these coins at a premium but there's so many of them across all different years from 1958 up through 1964 that the premiums associated with them is fairly small until you get into higher grades. But then, every thing in a higher grade has a larger premium. Right?



Same coin below:









Sintered or improperly annealed coins are often consider dirty or stained by folks who don't know any better and they often get passed over.

I suppose the one plus with regard to the name "Black Beauty" is that, since every body knows about the horse Black Beauty, it is readily accepted by even novice collectors. I know it got my attention.

 

Those are some smoking hot coins 19Lyds... I like the Ike's..

 

I have a 1958 D large star, black in tone on both sides Jefferson nickle. One ? Though. Why is the mint mark on the back of these?

 

You need to post a picture..

 

Thanks for this information

 

Are either of these black beauties? I really think they are

 

They don't look like mis-annealed nickels
to me - maybe larger photos would be helpful.

And yes, other dates are known for Jeff.nickels -
1959 is the most common date, by far, then
1958, then other dates.

 

It is very hard to notice the color, i assure you they have a black hue to them thats how i found them. And if you look in front of the dates, one has a star before the date

 

Because the mint mark got moved to the front of all coins in 1968 after mint marks were bannished from 1965 to 1967.

Well, except the 'Golden Dollars' (Presidential and Sacagawea) On those the Mint Mark got moved to the edge in 2007 for the Presidential Coins and in 2009 for the Sacagawea coins.

 

So the mixture itself is the same as other "normal" nickels? I know the brass cents minted in the early 1940s occurred because there was less copper and more zinc added, either by mistake or through experimentation, and those are actual improper alloy mixes. Why would ANACS write "Improper Mixture" if that means something totally different like being cooked too long in the annealing ovens? Those two designations are not synonymous.

 

I wonder why the overcooked nickel planchet (roll/sheet?) was not destroyed or disposed of at the mint. Which is what they are supposed to do.

 

TY for this.
I never understood, so I've just passed them by when I found them...

 

Well, many nickels will be black from environmental damage.
An improperly annealed planchet is a nice error, and there are some
differences in the color, etc. Check a couple of threads here for photos.

 

If you’re talking about 19Lyards post and picture from August 26, 2014 the ANACS label reads Improperly Annealed Planchet.

 

I kmow the label says that, but it doesn't really address what I was asking.

 

JCro57
Where is the improper mixture label?
Also not sure if the alloy mix in the early 40's cents is incorrect or just a story.
That was touched on here in a couple of other threads.