Do copper penny normally age like this?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Coiningforprofit, Apr 24, 2023.

  1. mir_20230424_161552.jpg Hey guys I came across this 1947 penny and was wondering if this is suppose to looking like this? Actually the first 1947 penny I've come across, so any info would be awesome.
    Also is this environmental damage on this 1949 penny
     

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    Last edited: Apr 24, 2023
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  3. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins

    Lots of corrosion and post mint damage........by those pics.
     
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  4. rte

    rte Well-Known Member

    Environmental damage.
    It takes on many forms.
     
  5. Hookman

    Hookman Well-Known Member

  6. sergeant

    sergeant Not a Member

    Metal detector finds. The green ones are kinda neat if they're smooth.
     
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  7. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    They can age in all kinds of ways. It depends on their environment. They rarely flat-out dissolve the way Zincolns do.
     
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  8. VistaCruiser69

    VistaCruiser69 Well-Known Member

    In regards to the 47 ' and the 49', Yes they age like that, when they're in the ground.
     
  9. Mountain Man

    Mountain Man Well-Known Member

    Once any coin is minted and released, it is subjected to all types of environmental things that can affect the surface, plus you have people "messing" with coins for whatever reason.

    Maybe this will help some.
    Copper-Color-Scale.jpg
     
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  10. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    Dr. William Sheldon, who wrote the classic book on early American large cents, built a collection of the various colors copper could take. He called it “autumn leaves.” The coins ranged from a really nice, nearly mint state early large cent to many colors of copper corrosion.

    He gave the set away to an interested collector many years ago. Since then it has changed hands a few times. The last I knew a dealer had who wanted a number in the six figures. It was so overpriced that I didn’t even file it in my brain.
     
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  11. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor Supporter

    You can search for colors of copper in exposure to chemicals such as this on the internet and think of it as basic colors and then what various mixes would show.
    Jim

    upload_2023-4-25_18-11-52.jpeg
     
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  12. Actually this seems really useful thank you.
     
  13. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    But only the one on the far left is actually a copper compound...?
     
  14. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor Supporter

  15. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    One addition: that "black" CuO, like black silver sulfide (Ag2S), can make all the colors of the rainbow as a very thin film on a metal surface. Same for the sulfides (CuS and Cu2S).
     
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