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Message:: [QUOTE="Oldhoopster, post: 4895473, member: 84179"]I would like to know how Ken Potter and PCI authenticate that the plating is brass?  If it's based on color, well.....  How can they be certain it wasn't environmental toning?  Heat induced?  Chemical contact?  And if it's being done visually, how do they reduce the subjectivity of their opinion?  Do they have known brass color standards?  At what zinc levels are the coins considered brass? 1%? 5%? 10%? Just what are their qualifications to determine the zinc level be judging the color. There is no question that brass plated cents exist.  The process, materials, and chemistry say that it can occur.  I have a couple that I am 100% certain are brass plated.  But without corroborating data, it's still only my opinion.  Are you going to believe me just because I say it's brass?  No, you'll want to see the data (which you should)! Basically, what Ken Potter and PCI are saying is "we think the color looks like brass, so it is a brass plated error.  Trust us." Remember, XRF and other nondestructive analytical methods penetrate below the surface and will pick up the zinc in the core, so they aren't using science.[/QUOTE]