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Replies: 224 / Views: 34,726 |
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Valued Member
United States
129 Posts |
Not sure if this 1974 is worthy of the official post, but you never know until you try  I did assume this coin to be a "Black Beauty" at first and now I am having second thoughts. I say that because while the color does appear to be of the actual coin, it almost looks a dirty/greasy like brown rather than the typical gunmetal grey? The reverse does seem to have some discolored deposits of some sort but I am starting to wonder if this is the result of grease on the rollers when the metal stock was formed?/  
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Pillar of the Community

United States
9284 Posts |
It's murder getting a good picture. I found 2 1954 philly dark nickels. Could have sworn I had more. This one is the darker of the two and looks a lot better than this. It has more of a gun metal color than black and is lighter than this image shows. These are in grayscale, not color. I leave it out of storage and see what the daylight picture will look like tomorrow.  
My favorite album! Image hosting is provided by CCF. Thank you for your generosity! World's Fair Exposition Medals and Tickets http://www.coincommunity.org/galler...p?album=2020
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Pillar of the Community

United States
9284 Posts |
As promised. here's my day pictures, but I can't do the image justice. This is a typical circulated borderline "Black Beauty" IMO, but the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Obverse with camera, reverse with microscope.  
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
I agree nickel guy these coins are hard to get a good representative photo of.
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Pillar of the Community

United States
6911 Posts |
During the course of my 366,400 nickels searched CRH journey I have come across only one coin which I considered to be an authentic 'black beauty' ... which for all I have learned occurs on coins dated 1958 and 1959. 1959 Jefferson nickel Black Beauty This coin retains significant mint luster and the surfaces are more .... hmmm ... purple perhaps in color than I'm able to capture in the photograph. This is not environmental damage causing toning. That said ... I have found many Blackened Jefferson ... environmental issues causing the dark surfaces rather than mint planchet issues. I have an entire Dansco 7113 devoted to collecting these Blackened Jefferson ... even shared a thread here at the CCF on the topic. I'm still pursuing my Blackened Jefferson set during my CRH ... great fun for me as a collector. If interested in viewing a bunch of Blackened Jefferson ... you can view the old thread here: http://goccf.com/t/248676Not trying to dampen any enthusiasm for this thread ... keep the dark Jefferson coming.  David
Edited by nickelsearcher 06/05/2017 7:34 pm
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Nickelsearcher: want me to save all my darkies for ya? Also, there have been reports of some BB's in 1960, most all seem to be Philly mint (may be wrong there) but I do agree seems mostly 58 & 59 for a true one. Of those listed above, a 1954, and a 1974, I don't really think these are BB's, just some other damage either sintered by heat or ED through being subject to elements (buried). Having held two AU/MS 1958 examples (Spruett's above, and the one now in my collection...wasn't bought off eBay) it is easy to tell the difference between a BB and a darkie. It would be interesting if we could find out 1) how many planchets are cut out of a sheet and 2) how many sheets had this particular anamoly. That may indicate just how many made it into circulation in those years...of course this is just dreamin' 
Edited by Crazyb0 06/05/2017 7:40 pm
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
11246 Posts |
I don't know how it all worked in 1958 but, I found that nickel stock comes in a sheet stock roll about 13" wide and 1500 ft long. So, a total of 1625 sq ft. I know that not every square inch is used and the very first several feet of blanks are scrapped as well as the last several feet (can't remember how many). I found a source about making a nickel floor that said 195 nickels will fit in a square foot (oriented as they are when punched by the mint). So, to be conservative, 1600x190= 304,000 blanks punched from one roll (currently) that may go on to becoming circulating coins. I just find it hard to believe than an entire stock roll being "black" went unnoticed. Maybe the stock was spotted with dark areas throughout but, then you would expect to have half-and-half versions. 
In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020 In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020 "If we continue to accumulate only power and not wisdom, we will surely destroy ourselves." -Carl Sagan
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1680 Posts |
Here are two coins I found tonight in a box. Is the one on the left a "Black beauty"?  
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Pillar of the Community

United States
9284 Posts |
The one on the right looks like one for sure.
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
11246 Posts |
You must have meant on the right and I think it's a winner!
In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020 In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020 "If we continue to accumulate only power and not wisdom, we will surely destroy ourselves." -Carl Sagan
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Ding, ding, ding, ding! And we have another winner! A 1958P yet...hummmm 
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
11246 Posts |
I think I understand what you're after Crazyb0. Every nickel posted that looks to be a true "Black Beauty" is from the Philly mint. The only ones to mention are dave700x's which shows no reverse (thus no MM) and Potbellypub's first post which I have my doubts about (there's some copper color on the obverse that seems out of place). Even the 1954 that NickelGuy posted looks legit and is also from Philadelphia. This is one of the reasons for creating this thread. Finding out where these came from is just one step closer to solving the mystery! @Idacostya Yours has potential but, the pics are so dark it's hard to tell. Finding one from 1974 would be a game-changer (although still being from the Philly mint). That's the most worthy of further investigation that's been posted. 
In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020 In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020 "If we continue to accumulate only power and not wisdom, we will surely destroy ourselves." -Carl Sagan
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9499 Posts |
Mine's a Philly mint. I didn't find a shot of the reverse and the coin is tucked away and therefore not available to photograph at the moment.
1883-O Nut
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
Check this out spruette it's a 2000 D and the obverse has the attributes to make it a black beauty it has the color the luster and the purple and blues . But...... check out the reverse it's the one on the right. When you mentioned half and half coins a light came on and I remembered having this set aside.   I would guess this was heated by someone or left on the dash of a car in the summer heat for a while not sure. It hasn't been in the ground whatever did this one it's purely one sided .
Edited by Potbellypub 06/10/2017 09:07 am
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Valued Member
United States
75 Posts |
Do these qualify? I haven't a clue really. I just like collecting coins. Like
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Replies: 224 / Views: 34,726 |
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