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 Replies: 12 / Views: 4,643 |
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Valued Member
Canada
219 Posts |
Here is a 1925 Buffalo nickel minted on a what I think is a copper planchet. It weighs 4.87g, diameter = 20.8mm, and thickness = 1.9mm  Side by side with a 1926 Buffalo nickel  |
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Moderator
 United States
34398 Posts |
@numidan, since it appears to be the correct size and weight, is it possible that either there is environmental toning/chemcial exposure which has caused the copper color or even a post-mint copper-plating?
"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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Valued Member
 Canada
219 Posts |
Nothing is for sure until I have it analyzed by a XRF tester!
But it looks just right. Click on the first picture, and you will see black oxide on the surface similar to the accumulation on pennies in those days.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Insignificant chance this could be struck on a copper planchet. Where would this perfectly-sized blank have come from?  Edited by Coinfrog
11/22/2018 10:10 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
219 Posts |
The closes I found with the right composition in that period is:
Nicaragua 1924 1 Centavo 95% copper, 5% zinc & tin, 4.0g, 20.3mm
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Edited by John1
11/23/2018 05:52 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Environmental discoloring on that coin . I have seen Buffalo nickels with many different colors .  |
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New Member
United States
33 Posts |
I agree with T_BOP's assessment above-environmental damage. I, too, have seen a number of Buffs with that type of discoloration.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
I lean heavily towards environmental damage leading to a change in the patina.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36738 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3641 Posts |
A specific gravity test would be definitive. Specific gravity of a .95 CU .05 Zn cent is 8.80 and the specific gravity of a .75 Cu .25 Ni five cent is 8.95. The closeness of the numbers necessitates a good scale and multiple measurements.
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Valued Member
Canada
219 Posts |
SPP was kind to test it with his XRF analyzer. Thank you SPP!
Here is the result:
Cu: 80.95%
Ni: 18.56%
Fe: 0.12%
Most likely within the tolerance of the mint's metal composition :(
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Moderator
United States
34398 Posts |
Quote:
:( Ok bummer, but it is really nice of you to follow up by posting your results!  "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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Replies: 12 / Views: 4,643 |
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Posted 11/22/2018 9:54 pm
