1957 Nickel: Blueberry Toning? Can This Really Be Natural Cupronickel Toning?

I would hope there's a way to prove natural vs. artificial toning conclusively. I don't know what that is.
As mentioned, it was slabbed by PCGS with anti-counterfeiting technology. What is that exactly.
Does that cost extra?

You cannot, because the difference is a fat grey line at best, a continuum at worst. In the end, it is all chemistry.

Did someone "help" it and if so, how? Does sticking a coin in a drawer full of Taco Bell napkins and forgetting about it for a few years count as artificial? What about the album toning we all love? Certainly that is considered artificial—coins do not come from the Mint in albums!

This is why it is better to judge toning as market acceptable or not. Apparently PCGS thinks it is.

Thanks Jbuck I missed that. That's actually a good idea, hopefully the Counterfeiters won't find a way around that. Too soon anyway.

My pleasure.

Something I have always known to be true is that if it can be read (or seen or heard), it can be copied. The only barrier is effort. Once the cost of effort falls below the cost of gain, well, criminals will crime. Locks only keep honest people honest.

Anyone ever try this stuff?

https://www.primagem.org/bluing-met...ain-cleaner/

There is a picture of bolt-like hardware further down the page that resembles the color of the nickel.

Beautiful lamp! I know from bluing tools (restoration), you can get different shades of blue. I never experimented with coins though. It would be interesting to see what could be made.

PCGS UN-true view. I suspect the color is much more subtle in hand. Also notice how the grain from obverse to reverse is consistent with a woody pattern sometimes seen on nickels.

I agree, at first, it screams market unacceptable. Generally, bright blue coins are highly suspect but I think their lighting/pictures are showing something that's probably not so much "Crayola looking" in hand.

Sing it loud my brother!!