Possible Black Beauty Jefferson Nickels

^ What he said?

I do remember reading about them here in the past.

Is it only 1959?

Reading Whitman's book " A guide to Buffalo and Jefferson nickels" (a very good book) Q. David Bowers quotes Bernard Nagengast's book "The Nickel Analyst"

On pages 175 and 176, it states there was problems with the annealing ovens, particularly with the atmosphere in the ovens. They go on to say there were some dark nickels in the late 40's, more in 52, 53, 54. The book says 1955 was a new low with most nickels having a darkish cast.

For 1958 it says "the Philadelphia mint did such a uniformly good job in producing black nickels in 1958, that some enterprising coin dealers promoted the coins, selling them as "Black Beauties"

The book goes on to say there were some 1959 black beauties ... but less common

I have read online sites where, as coinskelly posted, that 1959 was the main year for these coins.

Most do say the nickels ranges in color from grey to charcoal black.