| Author |
 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,441 |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
202 Posts |
I have about 10 buffalo head nickels, and I wondering what causes those copper colored streaks accross the nickel. I have noticed the streaks on numerous Buffalo nickels and I want to know what causes it. Thanks. |
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
226 Posts |
I have also seen this on several Buffalo nickels and believe it to be a poor alloy (75% copper, 25% nickel) mixture when making the planchets. others types of planchet flaws seem to be common in this series also such as planchet lamination.  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Improper mixing of the alloy or the pouring/cooling of the ingots. The copper was not throughly intermixed with the nickel so as the ingot is rolled out into a strip you get streaks of high and low copper content. These areas tone differently with the high copper areas toning slightly darker resulting in streaks on the coin.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I like your name for those coins. Buffalo Head. People normally say Indian Head or Buffalo nickel but you combined both to make a Buffalo Head Nickel. Always something new. As to those streaks it is possible about the improper mixture since quality control was not the greatest back then. However, I would think that such streaking would have been noticed by the Mint people even back then. Of course there was probably little consern if it was noticed due to no quality control system in place. The problem with just an improper mixture of metals is after so many years there would not be a Copper colored mark of any kind unless the coin has never been circulated. A cleaning would possibly bring out the different materials though so that is one possibility. So far I've never noticed that effect on those coins and I just went to investigate my collections of them. With 10 Whitman Albums full, several rolls of the more common dates and numerous ones in 2x2's, nothing like that. |
|
Valued Member
 United States
202 Posts |
 Here is an image of one of my coins that has the streaks that I am talking about. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Condor has, as usual, explained perfectly what has happened chemically to your coins.... This isn't something you're going to "clean off". So they'll just have a little character !.......  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
However, I would think that such streaking would have been noticed by the Mint people even back then. Not really. We aren't talking about streaks of copper and nickel, we are talking about streaks of say 78% copper 23% nickel next to a streak of 74% copper 26% nickel. When new the two would be for all practical purposes the exact same color. It is only later as the higher copper content streaks start to tone at a slightly faster rate than the low copper streaks that they start becoming visible. |
|
Valued Member
United States
202 Posts |
All right. That's interesting. I learn something new everyday.  |
|
Moderator
 United States
187582 Posts |
Quote:
Here is an image of one of my coins that has the streaks that I am talking about. Even though it is a small image, it shows a good example of the streaking. |
|
Valued Member
United States
202 Posts |
Yes it is rather small, I couldn't get my scanner to scan in at any higher than 600 DPI.
|
|
Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
No problem, it does the job; at least for me. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
cabomhn......
So, what's "your" opinion on your "streaks" ?
Do they bother you.......are you accepting them as coins with "character".......?
Happy ?
Unhappy?
|
|
Valued Member
United States
202 Posts |
I actually like them. I think it makes them look their part from other Buffalo nickels. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
 Me too !...  I wouldn't kick em' out ! |
| |
Replies: 13 / Views: 1,441 |
|
Posted 08/13/2008 09:57 am
