Definition of Woody - What is it

Discussion in 'Error Coins' started by Roseland3, May 4, 2022.

  1. Roseland3

    Roseland3 Active Member

    I took over my Dad's coin collection recently and he has quite a few coins marked "woody". What is it and what happened in the minting process that created it?

    Thanks in advance.
     
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  3. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    When you see what looks to be wood grain in the medal. Its is caused by improper mixture of the alloys. You'll see this on cents ,and nickels mostly. proxy-1.jpeg downloadfile-42.jpeg proxy-3.jpeg downloadfile-37.jpeg
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2022
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  4. GH#75

    GH#75 Trying to get 8 hours of sleep in 4. . .

    It has to do with the metal used for the coins not being mixed enough. It leaves different colored streaks and can be yellowish or other shades of brown on cents.
     
  5. John Burgess

    John Burgess Well-Known Member

    because I'm here...

    It's an improper alloying of the metals. metals are melted and combined to make an alloy. In the case of a lincoln cent, like the earlier years it was to be 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc, this makes "bronze", however, if the alloy isn't fully melted and mixed properly, you can get pure copper streaks, if the tin doesn't mix in well you might get streaks of Brass in the bronze, or if the zinc doesn't mix in well to the alloy you might get phosphor bronze streaks in the finish sheet.

    All of this is going to look the same when brand new metal, and as freshly minted coin, it will be close to alloyed properly and be a coppery cent color, but as the metal tones with time, the different metal compositions, the slight variation in the alloy not being mixed well enough, it tones at different rates making the streaks stand out.
     
  6. alurid

    alurid Well-Known Member

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  7. derkerlegand

    derkerlegand Well-Known Member

  8. derkerlegand

    derkerlegand Well-Known Member

  9. Heavymetal

    Heavymetal Well-Known Member

    I have a dozen or so, different countries 575A9DA9-AB34-41BC-9737-A8276AD4D460.jpeg DDD9A847-3A22-4C3D-A6A6-7A5C0EE890EA.jpeg 4004F8AD-3FA1-41F5-AB8F-D9CD60464353.jpeg 3B52CBD7-BCCA-4616-AB95-C0341A0D034E.jpeg 3046B1F6-6797-4075-A334-4E7945162D7D.jpeg 7BAFFC09-CDC1-4CB8-A4D4-120A41B6883D.jpeg 80E48DBB-AFD2-416A-A5A4-EA0BD0FF1A60.jpeg 11C6FD70-8758-4AA7-97C1-538C3191E680.jpeg
     
  10. expat

    expat Remember you are unique, just like everyone else Supporter

    The key seems to be that in principle, improperly annealed alloys will tone differently, and at different rates than metal with roller lines on it which is often confused with annealing problems. Here is a Japanese 1000 Yen which shows how the toning is affected by the streaks in the metal
    DSC01351-crop.jpg DSC01352-crop.jpg
     
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  11. Roseland3

    Roseland3 Active Member

    Thanks you for all of your help. Good information.
     
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  12. charley

    charley Well-Known Member

    When I was 16, it meant something entirely different.
    How times changes words.....

    I can tell you it had to do with a bird character in an old Knock Knock movie, the name of the bird being bastardized, somewhat, as to the meaning of the name of the bird.
     
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  13. Mr.Q

    Mr.Q Well-Known Member

    I think you've gotten it now. Enjoy your father's collection and don't forget to share his, now yours, goodies. You are very fortunate, thanks for sharing.
     
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  14. TonkawaBill

    TonkawaBill Well-Known Member

  15. usmc 6123

    usmc 6123 Active Member

    Nice that floats my boat.
     
  16. Chris Winkler

    Chris Winkler Well-Known Member

  17. wxcoin

    wxcoin Getting no respect since I was a baby

    I'm glad you asked this question in a coin forum. A non-coin person may have given you a look.
     
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  18. coin_nut

    coin_nut Well-Known Member

    One of my favorite woodies...

    1974 ZA 2 c (2).jpg
     
  19. coin_nut

    coin_nut Well-Known Member

    And another...

    1853 B FR 5 c.jpg
     
  20. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

    All very nice examples
     
  21. YankeeDime

    YankeeDime non-conformant

    Just beware of roller lines. They are often mistaken for a "Woody" because they can look similar.

    20171023165310_3B81A78F-CAF5-4003-B389-74F537FAC9EE.jpeg

    Here's an example of roller lines. The difference is pretty obvious from the examples of true Woody's everyone has shared here once you know what to look for, lol.
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2022
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