A friend asked me to look through some coins of hers. Most were easy to identify for her. (Including the "Liberty Head Dime" she thought she had that was really an 1865 three cent nickel.) A few were spend material. But this one has me puzzled. I think it is just a 1962 nickel with environmental staining. But is it possible it is improperly annealed?
I'm thinking environment, too, but I doubt it was found with a metal detector. The person asking me to look at the coins is in her late 70s and she got them from her mother. I don't think either of them ever touched a metal detector!
I too believe it is environmental. The way it was stored could have a lot to do with it. In my opinion, no as to being a black beauty.
Environmental damage / toning. A detectorist puts found coins back into circulation. Someone else gets it as change out of circulation and thinks it is odd and saves it.
Nickel coins and “black beauty” do not go together. Black nickel coins are corroded, which is environmental damage. They are worth far less than pieces with the usual grey color. I learned that lesson in middle school when I bought a sharp, but black, 1862 Indian cent and took it to a dealer.
Not sure what you mean. "Black beauty" nickels have been certified as improperly annealed or improper allow mix, I think mostly 1958-59, and they pop up in all the get rich from pocket change stuff. I don't know how a TPG distinguishes from env damage and perhaps they won't certify it anymore. There's two MS64 on HA sold for $69 and $119, so minus the grading fees the "get rich" part is rather dubious.
