I didn't think much about this coin until the recent discussion about the brass Indian cent and the different types of chemical alterations that can happen to coins.I had it in my album for a couple of years because it seems to be a decent grade except that it's almost jet black.It isn't normal toning or tarnish,looks almost like the black shiny nickel finish you might see on fancy guns.I was unable to show this in my photos.The darker flash pic shows it almost as it is in sunlight and I took one next to an UNC to show the contrast.Any ideas on how this was done? signed,Curious in VA
I have seen a black nickel and I think I was told that it was something to do with the metal...that it had impurities...maybe I'm thinking of something else...Is there any chance that someone blued this nickel like you would a gun?? Speedy
Off color Jefferson nickels are not uncommon. The natural discoloration is caused by an incorrect alloy mix containing too much copper. Charlie
Sounds like my Bro-in-law....sometimes I find old George Washington with red hair and a blue face.... Speedy
per Bernard Nagengast, in his publication The Jefferson Nickel Analyst 1958-P, Quality is a problem, and much of the issue is dark or black in color. The surfaces usually have many small nicks and white, mark free gems are rare. Strike varies from full to very weak. Some 1958's are charcoal black in the past these coins were promoted under the nickname "black beauties. oops.. well 1959 is listed the same..
Thanks guys, You learn something new every day.I'm going with glacierme's black beauty answer because....well just because it eliminates the "somebody had too much free time on their hands" explanations,so all you Sharpie pen wielding,gun blueing bro-in-laws are off the hook.
Black beauties are well known and often command high prices among nickel collectors. They are not limited to being found with just the one date either. You should see a Proof example - drop dead gorgeous coins !! I will note however that I do know a gentleman who can turn these out by the bucketfull if he so desires. Luckily for collectors - he doesn't desire.
I also have a black nickle, I've had it a long time and I know how it got black..... I swallowed it when I was a baby. My mom had to check my diapers to make sure it did'nt lodge inside some where. Yes it's been washed off. This one turned black I suppose from stomach acid. I've been collecting coins ever since, but I don't eat them anymore. Maybe that's why my Grandpa gave me his collection, he probably thought I was hungry.
I did that once by accident. I won't say how exactly, but it involved heat, a post 1982 lincoln, and aluminum foil.
Since it has original mint luster, I would think it's a genuine "black beauty" nickel. As to what causes the black color, opinion is divided. I submitted one for SEM/X-ray analysis and it came back enriched in copper (83%, I believe, vs. the normal 75%). However, the metallurgist could not explain why this should turn the coin black. Some believe it's a manifestation of "copper wash" -- discoloration caused by coins immersed too long in a cleaning solution saturated with copper ions. I really don't know. But there are black dimes and quarters as well, as well as mixtures of black and copper, black and red, etc.
