Buffalo Nickel question

Comments

• intocoins Posts: 602 ✭

  April 21, 2007 2:36PM

  I think I remember reading somewhere that this was caused by Indians who liked to carry them in their Tobacco pouches.
  
  Edited to add: Sometimes you will see some that are red also. I think it wasn't necessarily the Tobacco that changed the color of the Buffs , but the dye that was used to make these pouches .

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• fc Posts: 12,793 ✭✭✭

  April 21, 2007 3:27PM

  well my theory goes like this.
  
  The model for the "tail's" side of the coin was a buffalo named Black Diamond, a resident of New York's Bronx Zoo. He was born of stock donated by the Barnum and Bailey circus. In his prime, Black Diamond's coat was unusually dark, and he weighed more than 1500 pounds.
  
  so good old blackie's ghost is turning each and every buff nickel
  slowly to black. the reason some are really dark while others are
  not is due to the person holding them. evil people cause them to
  turn blacker faster when they own them. good folks buff nickels
  tone pleasantly and stay more silver colored.

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• Shamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭

  April 22, 2007 12:42AM

  
  Are you refering to metal detector finds? These are often dug out of the ground with very dark (black) toning.
  
  I've also heard of the Tobacco can theory although I don't know if it's true.
  
  

  Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!

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• PrivateCoinCollector Posts: 2,415 ✭

  April 22, 2007 8:02AM

  Anybody have a real answer?

  Morgan HerdTO Gold Mine

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• yellowjacket Posts: 1,809 ✭

  April 22, 2007 12:32PM

  Any nickel with black (dark) or red color may be the result of corrosion. Red nickels ususally have accompanied pitting. Dark nickels may have been in a fire, exposed to chemicals or have been buried.
  
  A 5x glass will be a great help.
  
  Garrow

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