Jefferson Toners

I don't own any black beauties because they are error coins which I don't collect and IMO the are not very eye appealing. As for my photo technique, it is very primitive. I use a Canon powershot SD870 IS (8.0 megapixel) in macro mode with two overhead lights. I then crop the photos using photoshop, adjust the overall brightness and hit autolevel to adjust the contrast and color. This technique works very well for me and my photos give a very accurate depiction of the actual appearance of the coin.

The nicest coin of the group is probably the 1939-D reverse of 38 MS67. I have no idea how this coin did not get a star and it is a true MS67 all day long.

 

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ANACS attributes these coins as an error coin IMPROPERLY ANNEALED PLANCHET. If they are wrong and it is just toning, OK, but I am going to trust their opinion on this one.

 

THAT I would love to see with better lighting or in hand! It looks like something else as it is. WOW...

 

I thought the black beauties were business strikes from the 50's? Can't tell from the photo but that looks a cobalt blue toned proof. Is my understanding of a 'Black Beauty"' wrong?

 

The very first coin in your pics, your 1938 P almost looks like a proof coin.

 

They are business strikes from the 50's which are attributed by ANACS as error coins with an IMPROPERLY ANNEALED PLANCHET and the words black beauty at the bottom. And that coin is a blue toned proof not a black beauty. I have provided a photo from HSN and the appropriate link to HSN where you can buy one of these ugly black beauties for $250 if you have lost your mind.



http://www.hsn.com/collectibles/195...oin_p-4489137_xp.aspx?web_id=4489137&ocm=sekw

Seriously, if you buy one of these, I might have to steal Spocks hammer and use it on you!

 

Now back to some serious Jefferson Toners. It arrived in the mail today, the 1941-D NGC MS67* 5FS and as I suspected, it is so much better than the Heritage photo, you won't believe it. Hold on to your hat!




The full steps don't show in the photo, but I promise the designation is deserved after examining the coin under a loupe. I guess I should post this coin in my "a good coin photo makes all the difference" thread.

Just a stunningly patinated Jefferson and now the king of my collection.

 

I do want one, but there is no way I'm going to pay $250. I'm looking to cherry one for a few $$.

 

That is one beauty. I'm beginning to hate you. JK LOL! You have quite a collection, I may have to give you my CT ID :bow::bow::bow:
Until last week I didn't pay much attention to toned coins now I'll be on the lookout.

 

Lehigh,
Just curious, but do you find that your toners stay the way they are, or do they keep toning into something that isn't as attractive? I read an article in the most recent Numismatist magazine which covered toning. They said that stage 1 toning (rainbow) is the most attractive, but then they advance into stages 2 and 3 which aren't so pretty. I was wondering if you had the same experience?

 

I have also been wondering this as well. One of my big fears would be to purchase a nice rainbow toned coin and then watch it deteriorate.

 

Heres a few more I found in my hoard!

 

Checking my "The Jefferson Nickel Analyst" By Bernard Nagengast. Paraphrased (The Philadelphia mint sporadically had problems with dark nickels after 1945an in 1958 they produced such black nickels that had a uniformly glossey or satiny black that some coin dealers dubbed them Black Beautiesand there are some 1959 Black Beauties as well but not commom.)

So a true Black Beauty according to "The Jefferson Nickel Analyst" By Bernard Nagengast, is a 1958 or 1959 business strike Philadelphia mint nickel.

Found this in my hoard. Don't know if this is concidered a black beauty or not? Any thoughts?

 

I have been collecting rainbow toned coins for years and have never seen any of my NGC or PCGS coins turn in their holder. I keep the coins in a cool dry environment and check on them often. If you are really concerned about the coin turning, intercept shield makes a product that is designed to house a slabbed coin. I use this product only on toned copper coinage.

Keep in mind that most rainbow toned Morgans resided in canvas bags in bank vaults for decades and are still in stage one of the toning process. In order to advance to stages 2 or 3, the coin must remain in an environment conducive to toning. In other words, there must be a source of sulfur to create the hydrogen sulfide gas that reacts with the silver and oxygen to cause the silver sulfide film (toning). Although slabs are not completely air tight, they provide a reasonable measure of protection as long as they are stored properly.

There is some evidence that coins that have sulfur content on the surface of the coin prior to encapsulation will continue to tone. I have never been able to find any source that explains how this would happen naturally but I don't believe there is any way to stop it from happening. My guess is that coins that are AT where a sulfur compound (liquid) was applied to the coin and improperly rinsed would still have sulfur on the coin. If one of these coins was encapsulated it would definitely continue to turn in its holder. All the more reason to make your best effort to stay away from AT coins if at all possible.

I don't have any slabbed coins to show you, but I will show how a raw AT coin continued to turn after I purchased it. This coin turned in a matter of months. Had the coin been slabbed, I believe this process would have taken years, but you can see what I mean by turning, the pink has completely yielded to dark blue.



I know this has been long, but I hope it has been helpful. Paul

 

Well when you put it like that, there really is no debate. That ANACS coin is garbage, whereas your proof is as cool as the other side of the pillow.

 

Hey Lehigh,
That 1941-D MS67 is so unbelievably beautiful. I'm curious though, why did NGC put the star by the grade??