I have a steel cent that looks blue when compared to other steel cents. It doesn't matter what type of light you can still see quite a noticable difference in the color. My other steel pieces have a silver hew, while this one is blue. Does anyone have an idea about why this is. It is incased in plastic, I recieved it for Christmas. It is a 3 piece "collector set" of WWII obsolete coinage. If anyone can help I would appreciate it. I will post a picture in a few days when i get my camera repaired.
Hello, Just a guess but I would say it reacted with something it was in contact with. I have seen coins that were a blue tone that people have baked in the oven (strange but true).
My brother gave me a little sack of steel cents many many years ago when i was little that included all the mint marks. Lowest grade in the the sack is probably a 62 or 63, but every single one is a light gun metal blue too. I love the color personally!
I have a few steel cents myself. Most of the worn out ones are a dull gray in color. However I have one in good condition that my grandfather collected in the early 50's. Iit is a light gunmetal blue color, almost aqua in color. I'd take a pic but my camera doesn't really capture the color I've heard from people that this is how they looked when first minted. If you look around on google images for some examples you'll see the MS ones are almost a blue color
informative Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input. You learn something new everyday, and I guess it just goes to show there are no stupid questions....well at least I hope this wasn't one of them anyway.
Unc steel cents are silver in color, but when the zinc is just starting to oxidize it takes on a blue-white color. This is the natual color of a thin layer of zinc oxide. As the layer thickens the oxide becomes more and more white.
