Technically, I should see the reverse. To truly be a woody, the streaking should go completely through the coin. From the looks of this side, it probably is a woody.
rlm- Thanks. I was hoping you would chime in here. I'll get you a photo of the obverse as soon as I get a chance. Would the obverse look exactly the same as far as the woody toning goes?
Similar, but not necessarily the same. Sometimes they match up pretty well and sometimes they are only in the area.
When I did my last box search last week I turned up a woody 1941, I hadn't seen one past the late 1920's previous to finding that one. From what I have seen and heard, you are more likely to see woodies from the western, ie Denver and San Francisco, because Philly would send the "lesser" metal out to the branch mints and keep the more properly annealed bronze for it's own coinage. Of course some years, there were just as many woodies from Philly.
so is it a woddy? This post made me wonder if now it wasn't. just want to clarify. Does the "woody" factor ad much value to the coin?
I believe for some 1920's dates the woody factor actually lessens the value a bit. But like or dislike woodies, that is all a personal choice.
Yes, it is a woody. As for value, they probably subtract more than they add. Although in this case, that is probably its only value. Were that graining on a 1909-S for instance, it would likely take 10 - 25% off the value.
It's nice to have a woodie! This effect is caused by the alloy mixture not being mixed correctly, the alloy mixing does not show up until the coin begins to oxidize. So, it is the different rates of oxidizing that make the woodie show up, at least that's what I heard.
Going through some coins this weekend and I noticed an unusual number of 1980 cents were woodys. I thought by that time they had gotten alloy mixtures near perfect. Granted the grain was finer and not as "woody" as the older ones, but it was definitely there.
