Just wondering why some large cents are a real dark chocolate color? Have they been modified in some fashion? I just received one - the details certainly look better than the one I have, but the real dark brown ruins it for me. I think I prefer the light browns even though they show more wear. I would post a scan of it, but then I have to unhook my cable connection, plug in the scanner and so forth. Too much work - and I have some real work to do. Maybe this weekend I can find time to post a scan of the two coins.
They could be a darker color because they used a poorer grade of copper? Maybe it is just because they did not mix the copper with any other metals to make an alloy. I could be wrong though, Rob
Pre-1982 cents were made of copper, and look at the color of the majority of them. I think it's because of different substances (moisture, air residue, etc.) that react with copper. Copper coins are hard to keep from browning. I'm sure others will have better answers though--- Bill
The dark chocolate brown is the normal color for circulated cents - of almost any date. Especially with the older coins, if it was anything but dark chocolate brown - I would suspect it had been cleaned.
I have a few large cents and they are all the darker chocolate color, I have one that has a lighter splotch on it but I suspect thats a flaw in the alloy or some sort of solvent was spilled on it.
There is a fine line between a natural darkly toned coin and one that has been artifically recolored. Be EXTREMELY careful if buying them raw, or factor that into the price you're willing to spend. Until you've seen quite a few examples, it is often difficult to tell the difference. I will attempt to help with a few photos. Exhibit 1: This coin is wholly original. It is actually darker than the photo suggests. Exhibit 2: Here is another completely original coin. It happens to be from the Randall Hoard of large cents. Note the dark toning on the reverse. Exhibit 3: Here is another original coin. Here the toning is much lighter -- more of a blonde color. I happen to really like this coloration, and it is not particularly common. Continued below...
...continued from above. Exhibit 4: This is the perfect chocolate color that the OP is referring to, I believe. A great coin with even natural color. Compare that coin to the following one: Exhibit 5: This coin has been cleaned and retoned. See how the coloration is darker and more even across the entire coin? Exhibit 6: This coin has also been cleaned and retoned. Although it is not even in color like the first example, probably due to the coin being more problematic to begin with, it is equally as unoriginal. Hope this helps...Mike
Yes - it helps alot Mike!! I think mine looks more like the 1822 you posted - almost like something was painted on the coin. All of the rest of my large cents look like the 1851 perfect color(what a call a milk chocolate. Just got a new PC today - not sure if my hundred year old scanner works with it. I will play with it this weekend to see if I can get some scans.
It's the copper and it differed year to year and even within a year. There are ways of telling when a particular large cent (particularly before 1800) were actually struck & which batch of copper was used. I have seen solid black AU-MS early cents (and half cdents) go for a premium...the only thing prettier would be a red one.
Reverse Image Okay - here are two 1849's. The one on the left is the altered one. When you look at the reverse - mostly between "one cent" you can see the build up of what ever they used. I only scanned the reverse - since it is most notable on that side. With the naked eye the coin looks good, but the minute you use a magnifier you can see the problem.
Mark, The first coin you posted looks recolored. The second coin looks to be original, but may have verdegris and/or corrosion problems. Larger scans would help...Mike
Let see if this scan is any better for the second coin. I can not see the verdegris - could be my lighting, but looks like dirt. Could the scanner be making it look greener than it is? The scanner and new PC do not like each other - I can now scan and work on the net, but it sounds like someone red-lining a car before it even starts to scan. Forgot to mention - this is the color that I like. And for some reason on these coins I like to see some wear.
That is an original coin. Looks good to me. Verdegris is consistent with the grade and not problematic. Find more 10 like that and you'd be doing well....Mike p.s. here's another nice original coin I just reimaged:
