I have an 1897 Indian cent in a SEGS 64 RED holder. I have had this coin for more 20 years but have never been able to decide if the color is original or altered. Never do theses but will give a poll a shot.
The Paul Harvey , "Rest of the Story". No one chose altered or color is off. As I said, I have gone back and forth on this. I bought this coin in 2006/2007 from David Lawrence Coins. It was part of a 3 coin set they offered but I can't remember if it was a straight sale or an auction. The 3 coins were: 1897 PCGS MS 64 RB 1897 ANAC (sm. holder) PF 63 BN 1897 SEGS MS 64 RED I recorded the price of this coin as $48 dollars. (Based on the CDN for the purchase price minus the CDN for the other 2 coins). People always say there is no Santa in coin collecting. It is hard to believe a coin dealer would let a true 64 red go for so little. On the other hand the majority of my surprise profits have come from buying coins in holders the dealers hold in distain. Color. It is not something you can easily see in a picture. In fact, it is much like the luster of Morgan dollars. You can tilt a Morgan and catch that cartwheel luster, but only by moving the coin. You can tilt this coin and you will occasionally catch what looks like a "pink" tinge. I have been told by some Indian Cent collectors that a pink tinge indicates altered surfaces. I have also been told that due to minor impurities in the copper Indian cents can have, yellow, light tan, pink, dark red or other hints and that is how the coin came straight from the mint. Which is another reason I keep changing my mind. Finally, I put together a group of 1880 to 1909 MS 64 PCGS RB coins. A group of 6 RED MS 64/65 coins. And a group of 6 Proof Indian cents. At any time I could put this coin with a group of 10 or 12 other Indian Cents and in 10 seconds pick it out because of it's lighter color. Those coins are long gone and this is the only coin that remains. I will add that if I ever have this coin regraded I will try and remember to post the results in case anyone cares. James
Just remember that copper is extremely reactive to the environment. Even air change change its color. You bought the coin 18 or 19 years ago. If there is the smallest of air leaks in that slab that is long enough to change the color. If anything, it’s just a form of toning.
I would have to say (at least based on my faulty memory), this coin has been stable as long as i have owned it. I will say this. I had about 7 or 8 coins that developed a few black carbon spots while I owned them. All of these coins were stored in the same (home) enviroment and all of them were PCGS coins. It is one of those situations ,though, where like the frog not knowing he is slowly being brought to boil; it is hard to know if things have changed slowly. James
I would say that the black carbon spots were on the coin before it went into the slab. They just didn’t show until time had passed.
