1959 Jeffersons

1954 1955 1958 and 1959 Philadelphia minted nickels are often found in a gunmetal or struck on very dark planchets. Sometimes called "Black beauties". These dates seem to be the most common with this phenomena.
Other years can also be found between 1954 and 1967 but all seem to be the dark alloy mixture and it seems that all are from the Philadelphia mint, at least that is my experience.
I think they are neat, and I have a fair number of good examples.

Good answer Wheezydog, good answer. Wrong question, but good answer.

The wide blurred lettering on your coins is being caused by worn dies.

Now that was funny!


I recall reading somewhere about the blurred edges and weak lettering. Wish I knew where it was I read it but I think it has something to do with heat from over use of the dies.
I will go look around again and see if I can find it again. Might have been a book, maybe it was on the net?
Can't afford to look much further tonight, but I think it is called Die Deterioration sometimes causing a doubling effect but this is not an error.

LATE EDIT:
Thursday 5/21 AM I found the information on this phenomena in Wexler and Ribar Best of the Jefferson nickel Varieties Vol 2 book.
In the beginning it has a section on different types of doubling, some of which are actual doubled dies and others that often get confused as such.
I was correct when I stated this is Die Deterioration Doubling, which comes from over use of dies, and actually has no real value as a doubled die variety, except for collectors education.
BTW, I do believe that the C0-author Brian Ribar is a member of CCF.
I wish he would comment on this but I am at a loss as to what his forum name is.