🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

If it doesn't fit anywhere else, POST IT HERE. Numismatic related posts only.

Moderator: Daniel

Forum rules
Here's a link to how to post a topic with images in our community https://coinauctionshelp.com/welcome-to ... community/

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You also agree to follow these guidelines. You must agree to these rules to be a member of this forum. NO SPAM! Spam is deleted within minutes, no spam will ever be left in our community.

1. Post a front and back image of your coin with a specific question about what you’re seeing or asking about and one coin per topic.

2. Please remove coin from the holder unless it’s US or an official mint case or unless it is graded by a grading service.

3. Images should be taken by a camera or cell phone camera, we ask that members don’t use images through a microscope screen.

4. Always start your own topic, please don’t ask about your coin or post your coin in someone else’s coin topic.

5. Do not send private messages about your coin unless an Admin ask you too and the same for sending emails through the board.

6. No spam. Do not post any links to your coin or other non-coin websites.

7. Always be respectful even if something makes you upset or you don’t agree with a member. You can always get a second opinion elsewhere. If you have an issue then politely ask an admin in an PM. PM’s are for issues, technical and personal, but not for coin questions (refer to number 5 on this list). Our community is not a soap box for complaining or drama, so please refrain from doing so here.[/size]
Locked
Message
Author
User avatar
Earle42
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 15577
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:18 am
Location: OH
Has thanked: 1330 times
Been thanked: 4875 times

🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

#1 Unread post by Earle42 »

Summary:
i. We do not know what makes these - the two theories are discussed.
ii. 1958 and 1959 are not the only two years these are known for.
iii. Other denominations can have the same "Black Beauty" appearance.
iv. A Black Beauty's luster/color is notoriously difficult to capture on film.

Resource (Likely the best on the internet):
Here is a long thread having everything you ever wanted to know about Black Beauty nickels from a specialist who collects/researches them:
https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/top ... _ID=288744

1. Best two theoretical causes (mentioned in first post at link above):
  • a. Improperly annealed planchent.
    b. Improper alloy mix with possible annealing oven variances.*
2. While there are two prominent years for Black Beauty nickels, those two years are not the ONLY two years for which Black Beauties have been found.



One note needs be mentioned before proceeding:
A main problem with Black Beauty coins is they are notorious for not being able to be photographed properly showing their dark luster (as is repeated in that link).


Following is a picture from the above thread of another specialist's collection of BBs which include a 1954 and a 1955 alongside numerous 1958s and '59's.
Click to enlarge to see the dates on the slabs.
Click to enlarge to see the dates on the slabs.
Since the collector mentioned has so many legitimate Black Beauties and can compare the '54 ad '55s side by side, I tend to give ANACS the benefit of the doubt that they got it right with the 1954 and 1955 (not being facetious).
Here is one of the 1955 BBs:
1955_Black_beauty.jpg
1955_Black_Beauty_REV.jpg

3. There are also other coins with the same Black Beauty appearance that are not nickels! Here are old and lousy pics of my quarter I posted to that Black Beauty thread as well as a link to the where my post is:
http://goccf.com/t/288744&whichpage=8#2715180
20130305_BlackBeauty_Quarter_OBVOPT.jpg
20130305_BlackBeauty_Quarter_REV_OPT.jpg
Note the first two pics were taken with direct sunlight hitting the quarter , but the picture, somehow, killed the luster. The second set of pictures is the same quarter beside a normal one and better shows the "Black Beauty" looking quarter to have the black luster a true BB has (still not a good pic).
20130307_1-BB_OBV_Leftopt.jpg
20130307_1-BB_LEFT_REVOPT.jpg


Looking at the first pic you actually can see the cartwheel luster making the typical hourglass shape from top to bottom. I think the unusual color makes the luster easy to miss in those two top pics.
Why the color difference in the two pics? Ask the camera. While it does have a slight bluish cast in direct sunlight I think the camera over-emphasized it.

Note - if the theory Black Beauty nickels are an allow mix problem and not an annealing error, then the quarter posted would likely, and technically, not be a Black Beauty b/c the quarter is most likely an annealing error (sintered planchet) and not an alloy mix problem.


* A Black Beauty might be a product of an incorrect annealing process, too much or too little oxygen in the coin, and maybe a trace element in the alloy mix. Sintered planchets are not colored all the way through but surface-affected only. An alloy mix error, by definition is all the way through the coin.
Common grading company shortcomings & resulting co$tly mi$take$ to collectors (using Kennedy No FG halves):
https://tinyurl.com/y7rksxu8

How much squash would a sasquatch squash if a sasquatch would squash squash?

Peggysis
Coinasieur
Posts: 179
Joined: Fri May 27, 2022 11:08 pm
Has thanked: 285 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Re: 🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

#2 Unread post by Peggysis »

Very interesting. Thanks.

User avatar
Paul
Master Die Variety Examiner
Master Die Variety Examiner
Posts: 18841
Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 9:19 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Has thanked: 897 times
Been thanked: 3273 times

Re: 🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

#3 Unread post by Paul »

:text-goodpost:
C.O.N.E.C.A. Wi State Rep
Fly-In Club Wi State Rep

MikeB
Coining Around
Posts: 12
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2022 10:51 am
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: 🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

#4 Unread post by MikeB »

Great post Earle!

I didn't realize that that was something to look for.
I've seen coins like that and didn't think much of it.

waynesonofpeter
Coin Wizz
Posts: 248
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2021 2:08 pm
Has thanked: 183 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: 🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

#5 Unread post by waynesonofpeter »

Thank you for that post. I was recently thinking about that subject, again, and was curious as to where to find more information.

User avatar
Earle42
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 15577
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:18 am
Location: OH
Has thanked: 1330 times
Been thanked: 4875 times

Re: 🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

#6 Unread post by Earle42 »

Post omitted right before this one of someone posting a nickel that is not NOT a black beauty, just environmentally stained.

Environmental staining can fool people.

Take the link and spend some quality time there b/c it's the only way to really get a handle on them and not be fooled by post mint damage.
Common grading company shortcomings & resulting co$tly mi$take$ to collectors (using Kennedy No FG halves):
https://tinyurl.com/y7rksxu8

How much squash would a sasquatch squash if a sasquatch would squash squash?

User avatar
Daniel
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 26236
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:59 pm
Location: Ohio
Has thanked: 1123 times
Been thanked: 4093 times
Contact:

Re: 🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

#7 Unread post by Daniel »

We need to turn of commenting on topics like this, please don’t post your coin in someone’s topic. It’s not a black beauty and you should be making your own post to ask about it.

User avatar
Paul
Master Die Variety Examiner
Master Die Variety Examiner
Posts: 18841
Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 9:19 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Has thanked: 897 times
Been thanked: 3273 times

Re: 🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

#8 Unread post by Paul »

Daniel wrote: Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:59 am We need to turn of commenting on topics like this, please don’t post your coin in someone’s topic. It’s not a black beauty and you should be making your own post to ask about it.
:text-threadjacked:
C.O.N.E.C.A. Wi State Rep
Fly-In Club Wi State Rep

User avatar
Earle42
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 15577
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:18 am
Location: OH
Has thanked: 1330 times
Been thanked: 4875 times

Re: 🐴 Is my nickel a Black Beauty? 🐴

#9 Unread post by Earle42 »

We need to turn of commenting on topics like this, please don’t post your coin in someone’s topic. It’s not a black beauty and you should be making your own post to ask about it.
Genie.jpg
Common grading company shortcomings & resulting co$tly mi$take$ to collectors (using Kennedy No FG halves):
https://tinyurl.com/y7rksxu8

How much squash would a sasquatch squash if a sasquatch would squash squash?

Locked
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post