Cleaned red. No good. Both were environmental damage ground finds that were chemically cleaned. Stay away
Even with the horrible out of focus pictures the coins can be seen as having been harshly cleaned. Red coins are prized for having survived without having toned. That seldom happens because copper is so unstable in it's metallic form and wants to oxidize. That is also why they are worth so much more.
Anyone have the chemical goods on the red colour? Pure copper typically goes darker and darker brown, and I am assuming that is due to the formation of a combination of copper salts such as oxides and sulfides. Curious to know if the true red colouration is due to formation of a very specific copper salt that passivates the surface and prevents the formation of other copper salt compounds. Anyone?
These coins would more accurately be described in numismatic lingo as "pink." We use this term for coins which have been cleaned or scrubbed and reveal the bare copper underneath. They appear to have environmental damage that was removed, leaving the bare copper exposed.
