Black 1938 50 Cent Piece... Why Is It Black? Grade ?

Hello HHH how are things ? Well I have seen this many times.. The black obv.. was likely in or up against a peice of leather ..... causing the blackness... I once found a silver half much like this in my Grandads old wallet and the only difference was both sides were black like this.. As for grade from what I can see I would call it AU to AU+

The original Canada Whitman albums also had that effect *exactly* on Canadian silver, entirely black where they touch the rear of the folder in the sockets and a ring of patina coming inward that causes rainbow toning from the rim to the inner surface. The very most raised surfaces on the rim and denticles have scrub spots that are less toned from where the album touches it as it folds closed.

I'd bet a bag of dogfood that puppy came out of a Whitman.

It's one of those historical things, where was it before that? I *think* the first Whitmans for Canada were made in the mid 50's - I have them. My editions have no second hole for 1926 nickels for example.

That's a great story though, found it in France... nice. Shame about the 25 cent piece .I like the looks of this coin a lot, I love toned coins. Worth every Euro.

I hesitate to grade it because I can't get any contrast with that dark of a toning effect in the photo.

How would you grade it?