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 Replies: 15 / Views: 4,294 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
746 Posts |
I focus on small cents but I picked up a lot of 1959 half rolls of nickels... When I opened this one all the coins are blue and almost black...Is that normal "toning" for nickels? I included a picture of the lot next to a modern to show the color difference and tried to capture the cobalt blue color here... Are there any errors/varieties for this year? Not any in CPG...    |
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Moderator
 United States
34402 Posts |
Maybe a so-called "black beauty"? There are tons of such threads with them here on CCF. Here is one of the best: http://goccf.com/t/288744"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
The blue tone is not common, but it is toning. Black beauties are easy to create. There is no special value for them, although I'd save that blue beauty  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Looks like what is known as Black Beauties .An Improperly annealed planchet .  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
746 Posts |
Thanks all, that is great news! I have seen a picture of a Black Beauty (in Crazyb0's pdf?) but thought these were too light and not the right year... Like I said, I know nothing about nickels so thanks for the help!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
746 Posts |
You know, it would help if I paid attention to the half roll wrapper they came in...   |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
That's a nice score if you got an entire half-roll of '59-P BBs (to me anyway)! I can't tell from the group shot, but that coin in the closeups sure looks like one to me. Not only does it have the tone and luster, but it also has a light "mottled" look to it. It's funny you mentioned "cobalt blue" because one of the theories is that since nickel and cobalt naturally occur together in the earth and have to be separated in the refinery, the nickel used in the BBs is tainted with too high a concentration of cobalt, giving them a blue/black color. 1959 is probably the most common year to find them and all that I have ever seen are from the Philly mint. P.S. Thanks for the plug, Spence! In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
Edited by spru
02/03/2018 12:39 am
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Valued Member
United States
425 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
219 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
746 Posts |
Thanks for the link Wildhare. I had taken these photos earlier but didn't post them...both OBW 1959-P one BB and one "regular". I noticed on mine the cobalt blue colors is very noticeable...one looks as though it is peppered with cobalt chips (see arrows).    |
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Valued Member
United States
219 Posts |
SF11Dude....it looks as though your "normal" nickel could have a minor die clash?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3173 Posts |
Nice looking coin!
Is the area around the date blue too?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
746 Posts |
Yes, on the date seems like the last 2 digits show the bluest.
Don't know why these things can magnify so well but have such a hard time capturing color...part of that is me too
Sometimes it is the EPU on the back seems to fluoresce...
As Crazyb0 pointed out the sheen is unique...the colors range from obvious black to subtle blue...
On the lighter ones I tilt the dome on reverse and it glows blue around the dome or gold if it is "regular"...
Unscientific but it works for me.
Final Count: 84 1959-P Black Beauties out of @640 nickels; about 500 1959-P & D, the rest '61 & '63's...
Edited by SF11Dude
02/03/2018 2:41 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
Given the high grade, I would check for clashes and DDRs. Good luck!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
746 Posts |
(Wildhare)...it looks as though your "normal" nickel could have a minor die clash?" Dangit, you are right! I was so focused on getting the pic I missed it. Thanks Rackster and Wildhare..I did find some minor obverse clashes...missed the reverse Wildhare saw... posted a die clash here but was not a BB... I will go back through and keep looking! I noticed on ebay they are graded and asking $50-$60 each, is that a fair value for each? If it's anywhere in that range times 84 that was my best score to date and I don't even collect nickels as a rule!  |
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Valued Member
United States
219 Posts |
SF11Dude....A BB that has been graded by a TPG may bring in about $20-25, but there goes any profit due to fees. Most non graded ones on ebay have been selling (many do not) around $4-5. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 4,294 |
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Posted 02/02/2018 8:45 pm
