I'm just curious. If you take a MS-65 Brown Penny and a MS-65 Red Brown Penny and a MS-65 RED Penny it is clear they are different specimens. On a MS-65 Brown Penny say - what makes it so chocolate brown like that? Am I correct in assuming that ALL pennies are RED when the come off the press? And then they age somehow and even though a BROWN one was never really abused, it mixed with the air or something an went from RED to BROWN? Whenever I see an old CHOCOLATE BROWN coin with superb detail I think the thing has almost encased itself in something to preserve itself for almost ever! The only thing that could take it down is regular wear. I don't know, high quality brown coins are all I'm going to get in some of those early Lincolns and my Collection is BU up to 1929 d ... so I guess I had better start getting used to BROWN pennies with superb detail if I want my collection to improve because I'm getting to the hundreds and thousands of dollars mark in cost for nice older pennies. Any info on this would be great - Thanks again Esky
Yes they are all red when struck, but when copper is exposed to the air it most commonly turns brown. It can tone other colors as well. A cent that is called red is supposed to have 95% of its surface be original mint red. A red brown cent can have as little as 5% of its surface be original mint red but usually it is more than that. A brown cent has less than 5% or no original mint red.
Years ago if the Lincoln cent coin was not gold or red colored, there was no way it was uncirculated. I still find it hard to believe a chocolate brown lincoln cent is MS. Just my thought on the subject.
How well does say a NGC or PCGS plastic holder preserve a penny? No matter the care - are virtually all pennies destined to become brown? And after a penny does turn chocolate brown - is that pretty much the final say on its color change - (the next step damage?)' I agree with Ed - a chocolate brown penny is hard to conceptualize as Mint State. On the other hand, I've seen some impressive chocolate brown pennies and one recently and that's why I had to ask - it was like that rare thing - Chocolate Brown MS - 65 ... I went WHAT??? Esky
The change in the color of copper depends on the environment or atmosphere that it has been exposed to. Sealing it from an environment that will make it change from red to brown will preserve it's present state. Copper does not need to be touched physically to start turning from red to brown, so mint state browns are quite common, yet they do not command the premium of a red. The turning/toning of any coin/metal is dependent upon the type of environment it is exposed to. Heat and sunlight can also affect a coin/metal.
A way to look at this toning issue is: Any metal will have a surface change(tone, corrosion, ect) if left in a natural state, unprotected from the elements. Now how fast this happens all depends on the envirment it is keep in. Look at the military they keep all ther extra aircraft in the desert-Why? because the desert is a constant-- now the metal will still change at the desert but it takes a lot longer. From the second the coins are made they will start to tone how fast this happens is up to you and how you keep them!!!
So that will bring me to the question of something that I read... I believe in Photograde. They mention coating the coins with clear nail polish to protect the surface from toning. Nail polish can be removed with acetone... the active ingredient in nail polish remover. I have been running this scenario in my head since I read it, but I haven't come to a conclusion about the validity of this idea. No doubt it would seal the coin and prevent toning as well as fingerprints, allowing you to be able to hold the coin, but is there any risk of other damage involved? Just seems an odd suggestion. Has anyone here done this before?
I'm trying not to repeat too much of the above. Toning is metal reacting with certain compounds in the surroundings. The two most likely contain oxygen and sulfur. Most metals in pure form are trying to become oxides in atmospheric conditions. If sulfur is present as a contaminant in the air or other medium like paper, it will also generate changes in the pure metal. Constant temperature, low humidity, these factors will help slow the process, but oxygen is everywhere.
Personally, I think all slabbers should have some sort of corrosin protection (like intercept shield) for R, RB copper coins. Copper tones pretty easily, and slabs are not air tight, so toning is a probability. Everytime I look at a coin slabbed as Red, I take it worth a grain of salt. Putting slabbed coins in a corrosive protective box helps, or storing them in any container with some sacrifical red cents will help prevent corrosion. I have a few friends that will not even buy red coins because of this problem. I do, maybe because its a challenge to keep the coin preserved. Also, gold colored copper is quite a sight.
It used to be quite common, even recommended, in years past. But like many things that used to be recommended, it was later discovered to be a bad idea. Placing a coin in direct contact with any liquid chemical, especially a coin made of highly reactive metal like copper, is not wise. It will cause some sort of reaction sooner or later. Proper coin storage is very simple - place the coin in an inert holder, preferably one that at least reduces, or restricts the coin's contact with the air. Store them in a cool, dry and dark place with a consistent temperature. That's all there is to it.
Esky - Here is a link to an article that will explain the red, red/brown, brown differences better than I can - Click Here
Ahhh... Once again, GDJMSP, thank you. It seemed like an odd idea to me, but one that could possibly work. They should remove such bits from books like Photograde or at least make note of current views or observations.
