Guess the Issue

It is part of the minting process. The specifications were not complied with. The inspection of incoming product failed to catch the material deficiencies. Process error - mint error.

 

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I have several woodies, they make good conversation pieces but of little value. It is definitely a keeper, a very nice woody. Thanks for posting it.

 

I just saw this crazy and sad priced item on eBay.

No way that's an Improperly Mixed Alloy
Looks more like dried urine on the plating



It's Environmental damage. Chemical

 

That's disgusting.
Definitely not a Woodie.

 

Its called a woody and was minted in homage to Abraham Lincoln in his early years as a rail splitter in his home state of Kentucky

 

@SensibleSal66 sure looks like the identical coin to me. Or is it just a coincidence?

 

Quality control. I'm sure everything is supposed to be inspected.

 

Not all "woodies" are improper alloy mixes. Sometimes they are just stained from prolonged contact with a contaminate on the outside.

 

Are you saying that some of these coins we see are actually toning, I am referring to striations in the planchet.

 

No. I am saying sometimes a "woodie" isn't exclusively an improper alloy.

 

I guess that I am misunderstanding you. The only questionable improperly mixed alloy. coins that I can think of are the late 70's and early 80' Lincolns.
All others have a pretty distinct look that looks nothing like corrosion,
you might need to elaborate.

 

A "woodie' is ALWAYS an improperly mixed alloy that tones at different rates.
A "faked woodie" has been treated to appear to tone at different rates when in reality it's artificial toning and applied differently for the appearance.
Planchet striations are not woodies at all.

Same coin different lighting (incandescent, then LED LOL!)because some areas the toning is less apparent since it's been held at this stage of toning for a really long time and not allowed to progress darker Since I don't want it going any darker than it was when I found it. it's pretty darn hard to fake this toning. the spots of copper that didn't mix completely into the brass alloy smashed and rolled out when the sheet was brought to spec thickness.


Also there's no way for the mint to catch it, it's a shiny red cent when it was minted, it's when the toning occurs it appears obvious the alloy wasn't mixed thoroughly.it's a mint error, because that's what the error authorities say it is. Even if it wasn't an error I would still think they have exceptional eye appeal and be drawn to it.

 

Planchet striations have surely been thought of as Woodies,
First these are planchet striations,

Almost gives the coin the imp M Alloy look, when in reality this is all due to toning.
When I questioned @JCro57 I was mainly referring to What I think are slight raised lines on late 70's early 80's bronze cents. It is the parallel lines that make me think that they are unstruck deformity's in the planchet, or an anomaly in the die that made them. I don't see them as being improperly mixed.
Here is Buffalo.
Is this toning, an application or an improperly mixed alloy?

 

Application of the environment .Toning is a term that describes the discoloration or light patina that forms on the surface of coins due to oxygen and chemicals in the air acting on the metal. This oxidation can result in a variety and level of toning and also depends on the properties of the metal – silver, gold, copper, nickel, etc.

 

You been here longer than I have and know clearly more than I do about coins, I'm by no means a professional or authority on any of the subjects I discuss. In fact I take you as an authority
Striations like in the first photo could be thought of as woodies but they certainly arent. I've seen striations and woody on the same coin, the toning is stripped in the same direction as the striations. Striations are lines left on the planchet from rolling or "roller lines". The have no effect on the toning anymore than the difference in height between fields and devices because the alloy there is the same composition so it doesn't tone at different rates.

the buffalo could be improperly mixed alloy since they are 75% copper 25% nickel although I'd have to suspect annealing as the culprit of this type of toning on nickels, as it usually is. And I can't rule out evironment either on the buffalo.

People think of toning as a surface condition, which it is, but in the case of the woody cent the "wood grain" appearance is in the metal of the coin toning at different rates. You could remove the toning but it will retone in the same stripy way over and over.

 

I would assume the “L” on liberty

 

Maybe not the same colors but in the same look. 100% true.

My point is that I have never seen a contaminant cause the look of an improperly mixed alloy.
I could be reading to much into the statement made.
I was just hoping for a visual.

 

I can't believe what I started, LOL
Discussion CLOSED .

 

Still open

I did A bit more research on the Buffalos with this appearance, and as I thought but refused to believe, it's the same thing that happens on woody lincoln cents. it's an improper alloy mix and it's just as common on Buffalos as it is on Bronze cents. The buffalo term is "alloy streaking" instead of "woody" ( guess because nickels don't really brown as they tone) and it's not as dramatic or appealing to collectors as woodies, but it doesn't hurt the grade at all. it's actually not annealing that causes it, it's the alloy mix not mixed well.

And then this brought me to a whole another thing to research.....
“intrinsic metallic inclusions” a piece of metal in the mix that doesn't melt for whatever the reason, and gets included in the sheet,gets punched out and voila!.... Interesting indeed.

 

What ? Duck season ?