wow, electric BLUE toned Buffalo
dcarr
Posts: 9,162 ✭✭✭✭✭
This one is for caitlin, who was boasting about his Buffalos in another thread 
I know this is complettely natural toning because I've had it for almost 20 years
(it hasn't changed a bit in that time), and I know where it was stored for 20+ years
before that. I bought it at an antique show for about $8. It was stored in a brown
paper envelope, in a rusty metal 35mm slide box, in a humid basement. I didn't
see the basement, but it was sill in the envelope/box when I bought it.
The pictures accurately show the color of it:
I know this is complettely natural toning because I've had it for almost 20 years
(it hasn't changed a bit in that time), and I know where it was stored for 20+ years
before that. I bought it at an antique show for about $8. It was stored in a brown
paper envelope, in a rusty metal 35mm slide box, in a humid basement. I didn't
see the basement, but it was sill in the envelope/box when I bought it.
The pictures accurately show the color of it:
0
Comments
John Marnard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235ff
Paul Bunions Ox Babe might have been blue, but there aint
no such thingy as a blue buffalo. It just aint right .
Camelot
and "still" in the envelope/box.
I should proofread better
<< <i>I know this is complettely natural toning >>
Unfortunately, it's still a bodybag.
Russ, NCNE
What I find amazing is I believe we had 2 "Attic" theories on these nickels, and now of course we have a "Basement" theory.
<< <i>Take at look at this one linky link >>
If it were submitted today, PCGS would bodybag it.
Russ, NCNE
Oh my God. I can't believe that coin was actually slabbed.
<< <i>" Take at look at this one linky link"
Oh my God. I can't believe that coin was actually slabbed. >>
Early '60s proof nickels are known to develop a blue hue while still
in the mint packaging. So I wouldn't be surprised if that one is
natural toning.
I like it!
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
not saying they aren't mkt-accpetable
but natural? no way in he11 that's natural tone.
K S
I would argue that this IS NOT natural toning. Though it was unintentional, there was nothing "natural" about this kind of environment.
Ken
<< <i>"It was stored in a brown paper envelope, in a rusty metal 35mm slide box, in a humid basement."
I would argue that this IS NOT natural toning. Though it was unintentional, there was nothing "natural" about this kind of environment. >>
All right then, we'll call it "unintentional" toning that took a couple decades to develop.
Too many foxes on this board looking at the sour grapes....
J
siliconvalleycoins.com
<< <i>sorry, but neither the blue buff nor the purple jeff are naturally toned.
not saying they aren't mkt-accpetable
but natural? no way in he11 that's natural tone.
K S >>
I've seen many blue 1961 proof Jefferson nickels still in the original Mint packaging.
I would call those "natural" toning because they have a tendency to tone that
way if just left alone.
In any case, the blue Buffalo was unintentionally toned and it took a long time
to form. That is the opposite of "artificial" toning that is intentionally created
in a short time.
<< <i>BTW dcarr, Caitlin is a she!! >>
My apologies to caitlin.
Sorry if I sound like I'm trying to poo-poo your coin. I'm not. It's just that I don't want people to think that this is natural toning.
Do you know that distinctive chemical smell you detect when you open a 35mm slide box? That's the smell of unintentional artificial toning. And while blue is the preferred color for toned nickel, I would stay clear of a slabbed Buffalo that was THIS blue and I'm a passionate Buffalo nickel collector.
However, if the price was right, I'd buy it as a raw coin. It is spectacular, just not natural.
<< <i><< " Take at look at this one linky link"
Oh my God. I can't believe that coin was actually slabbed. >>
Early '60s proof nickels are known to develop a blue hue while still
in the mint packaging. So I wouldn't be surprised if that one is
natural toning. >>
Daniel is absolutely correct. I've pulled plenty of these blue nickels directly from sets myself. Example:
The problem is that PCGS is now bodybagging them out of hand because they're worried that somebody is cooking them up to look like the natural ones.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>I've seen many blue 1961 proof Jefferson nickels still in the original Mint packaging. >>
so have i. but where was that "original mint packaging" before you got your mitts on it? for all you know, it was stored on top of someone's fridge, or in the attick, or on somewhere else where heat caused it to tone.
few years back, when segs met w/ a bit more respect for being "conservative", there was a guy who found some high-grade barber coins that had obviously been hidden in the heat ducts of a very old house. they were wildly colored, but not like album rainbow toning. segs wouldn't slab'em as being original (though i don't know what they'd do today....
not saying i don't like the coin, or that it isn't nice, just that it's NOT "natural" - to the extent that coins can be stored "naturally".
anyhow, who really cares? you've got a kool coin - probably heated at 1 time, but kool now - enjoy it as such
K S
<< <i>
<< <i>I've seen many blue 1961 proof Jefferson nickels still in the original Mint packaging. >>
so have i. but where was that "original mint packaging" before you got your mitts on it? for all you know, it was stored on top of someone's fridge, or in the attick, or on somewhere else where heat caused it to tone. ... you've got a kool coin - probably heated at 1 time ... >>
The early '60s blue-toned proof nickels that I have seen did not get that way due to heat. Evidence of exposure to heat would be seen in the plastic packaging. Why is it that the mid-1950's proof nickels don't turn blue, even when stored in the same environment as the blue toned '60s coins ? On more than one occasion, I have seen a batch of '55-'64 proof sets direct from the original purchaser (that have always been stored together), and the early '60-'63 nickels are blue and the rest are not. This strongly implies that the storage environment did not cause the blue toning. Why wouldn't all the nickels turn blue ?
I believe the blue toning is the result of a chemical residue from the Mint. Perhaps the Mint used a different type of lubricant in their nickel presses during those years. Or maybe a different type of planchet wash was used. Another possible explanation is that the nickels were heated at the Mint before being packaged. But I don't think the blue-toned proof nickels were born blue.