Definitive Test For Black Beauty Nickels

A beard or neck flab lol

Please take a look and let me know what you think. I also put 1959-D for color comparison. Thanks in advanced!

Thanks for posting here, antmark3d!




That sums it up. I already said this but, that's a very nice looking coin.

Can you imagine having an entire Jefferson album of Black Beauties?! It will never happen but, one can dream.

Thanks for info, spruett001!!

While they seem to be the most numerous, I can't believe that only those two years produced BBs.

I am guessing that this has to do with supply and demand for the raw materials (refined) and the current socio-political environment. Maybe there is an answer as to why this alloy was "tainted" with cobalt (my theory) during that time.

I would love to have the time to research and answer the question. There was certainly enough going on in the world at that time that the effects could be seen in stock sourcing and quality.

What is most interesting to me is that none other than from Philadelphia have been shown and I have yet to find a certified example from anywhere else. I suppose that gives a starting point.

So, again...

Hi Connie, see ya found this topic, no big deal to not know, now ya do. Lighting, that's the key to pic taking. Hint: unless looking specifically at the rim, always take a direct shot. #1 is not definitive to really tell more than a shiny coin. #2 had an incandescent light in the background, the upper reddish/orange tint will cause that rosy effect on the coin, another non-defined. #3 is no light, not enough daylight to emphasisze. Ain't picture taking Fun! I use LED flashlights and clipons to take my Pix, a little more natural, but still have to play with angles/shadows and reflections. I am still of the opinion that you have either a Black Beauty or one modified by Mark1959, LOL! He's always kidding he makes 'em with a torch then dropping red hot into water...which will discolor the nickel but not really give it that bluish shimmer, more a dull gray/black. Do you have one? I really can't say for sure, but is a strong hopeful.

Connie , your showing 3 different lighting photos of this coin . Only your 2nd pic of medium dark grey shows a darn good resemblance of a true B/B . Take it for what it's worth .

Spruette he's are a few links I found that may have a little to do with the cobalt in the mix. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Congo The first says that Cobalt is a by product of copper and nickel mining the other is about the civil unrest in the Congo around that time where the largest percentage of Cobalt is produced . Maybe poor workmanship separating the alloys. Just a thought.