Since this is my first post of many to come, I thought I would start with something unique. I have run across this 1963 Jefferson nickel proof with a unique color to it. What you see is what it looked like immediately after taking out of cello. What would cause it to have the blueish purple color to it and does it add value to it. I'm still new to collecting and only ran across a similar coin from Canada.
Hard to see on that angle. Can you please post photos of both sides looking straight down on the coin? Thank you and welcome to CT.
They will tone according to the way they were stored, even in the mint packaging. All plastics are permeable. The blues are my favorite toning color.
Strange that you mention Canada. Just yesterday I was looking through a box of miscellaneous coins and found the only two "true blue" coins I have, a Canadian dime and Canadian quarter. (Just tried to get a photo but no luck reproducing the blue tone). Steve
Here's a shot from above. it didn't really capture the color. Maybe I need different lighting. Would it be worth getting graded. My eyes tell me it's at least PR69 FS but they may be going blind. My true blue Canadian is 40'S or 50's nickel. It's not in front of me at the moment but I bet it would look good next to a dime and a quarter.
Ok, first things first, the FS (full step) designation is not used for proof coins as they are double struck and are supposed to have full details. Second, the chances that your nickel will grade PR69 is really remote, you should expect PR66-67 from a typical well preserved proof set. The early 60’s proof sets were sold in cellophane mint packaging and many of the Jeffersons have developed monochromatic yellow, blue, or purple toning. And while attractive, the color schemes are so common that they don’t really garner a premium price unless that have cameo contrast or rainbow toning. I recently submitted and sold this rainbow toned 1964 Jefferson Nickel which graded PF66 for $150. I currently have a blue proof 1963 at NGC for reholdering that grades PF67* and I would be happy to get $50 for it. The * designation indicates that one side of the coin has cameo contrast.
Those 60 's proofs were unbelievable in the colors they toned from steel blues to pastel cotton candy pinks and blues.
Lehigh Thank you for the edumacation. I am still new to collecting, still learning. Speaking of cameo I see alot of coins that have a black reflection to show cameo. I have a 1976 set still in hard plastic that has has the frosted Presidents. how do I distinguish between regular cameo and deep cameo?
I have been collecting the toned Jeffersons from the 60's for many years. They are beautiful. My favorites are the incandescents with colors, or the steel blues with golden color. edited
I had one like that many years ago with the blue toning. I was in my 20s and thought that the coin was a cull. I broke up the set. When I opened the pocket with the blue toned nickel in it, I got a big whiff of gas. It has to do with the way the coin was packaged. Some people will pay a premium price for this, although it will never be I.