Black nickels

tbirde56

'I've noticed that I occasionally I find Jefferson Nickels that are evenly colored a solid black to black brown in color. The nickels seem to have several common characteristics. They usually appear to be worn very little though shiny where worn or scratched. They all seem to occur 1972ish or later. They also appear extremely even in color not as one might expect the coins to tone. I've picked them out of my change and found them in much better conditions in rolls...not new bank rolls. Is this some kind of accelerated toning? Or could this be a result of blanks being stamped out of defective or edge metal?'

Steve27

Good question, and while I don't know the answer, I would like to add that I have seen that type of toning on nickels going back as far as 1914.

holeinone1972

We have a 1926 buffalo that is totally black. I will have to get it out of my Father's colection next time and get a pic.

Rob

Barndog

Got a nickel that looks as you described...it is 1940-D and came in change yesterday at lunch. Went right into the 11 year old's nickel folder.

StrikeOutXXX

That is pretty close to a description of nearly all the nickels I've pulled out of the ground metal detecting. About the only WAG to what you're seeing.

Conder101

1957 and 1958 nickels are well known for the black finish that is often found on Unc coins.

Cladiator

I know from personal experience that burning nickels with a flame turns them jet black

PerryHall

I've heard some dealers refer to them as "black beauties". I guess a little hype in the form of a fancy name makes them easier to sell.

morgannut2

Sometimes laundry amononia based bleach-detergent gets them if left in your pants durning a wash.

FullStepJeffs

I have a bunch of BU Jeffersons I found in mint bags... improperly annealed planchets. Can't get a decent picture... sorry.

Hope this helps!

Steve

Priest

I've found dark gray nickels and belive they tone (very even) from being bleached.

errormaven

These days they're being slabbed as "improper annealing" errors, the idea being that the planchets were baked for too long or at too high a temperature in the annealing drum. In prior years they were termed "sintered plating" and "copper wash" errors. The varying names reflect lack of consensus on the nature and origin of the odd colors.

Alan Herbert thought the nickel fraction of the alloy was contaminated by silicon. I had one of these black nickels subjected to a semi-quantitative x-ray analysis (SEM/X-ray) and not a trace of silicon was found. The surface was, however, enriched in copper (84% vs the normal 75%). Make of it what you will.

tbirde56

Thanks for all the great replies!
If anyone can add more info or opinions please do so.