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<p>[QUOTE="johnmilton, post: 25371333, member: 101855"]Collectors make a big deal out of the color of bronze cents. Many collectors strive for red, although I am not one of them if the piece is over 100 years old. I've been burned a few times on pieces that were dipped to look red, which changed color in less than a year. My favorite is a rich, stable brown followed by R&B. </p><p><br /></p><p>The Flying eagle and Indian cents, which were issued from 1856 to mid 1864, are another matter. They were made of 88% copper and 12% nickel. Despite the large amount of copper, these coins were white colored when they were new. People described them as "thick, white cents." They are also called "nickels" before the nickel five cent piece was introduced in 1866. </p><p><br /></p><p>This 1863 Indian Cent has its original color. This is something similar to a "red bronze cent" if you are looking for original color. This piece looks white, like a modern nickel, when you see it in person. For some reason it is coming up yellowish on this posting, although when I bring the photo up on Photoshop, it's white. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1623926[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Sometimes these coins can get a golden color as seen on this 1858 Flying Eagle Cent. This color is quite acceptable, although one of the grading services had the nerve or ignorance to send it back to me in body bag as "questionable toning." Today this piece is in an NGC MS-64 holder. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1623927[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Sometimes these coins can acquire multiple colors as is seen on this 1864 copper-nickel cent. These coins can bring premium prices. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1623928[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The one color to avoid is black. When these coins corrode, they usually turn black and can be crusty. Once and a while you will see a green spots on these pieces. You should avoid those problem coins also.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="johnmilton, post: 25371333, member: 101855"]Collectors make a big deal out of the color of bronze cents. Many collectors strive for red, although I am not one of them if the piece is over 100 years old. I've been burned a few times on pieces that were dipped to look red, which changed color in less than a year. My favorite is a rich, stable brown followed by R&B. The Flying eagle and Indian cents, which were issued from 1856 to mid 1864, are another matter. They were made of 88% copper and 12% nickel. Despite the large amount of copper, these coins were white colored when they were new. People described them as "thick, white cents." They are also called "nickels" before the nickel five cent piece was introduced in 1866. This 1863 Indian Cent has its original color. This is something similar to a "red bronze cent" if you are looking for original color. This piece looks white, like a modern nickel, when you see it in person. For some reason it is coming up yellowish on this posting, although when I bring the photo up on Photoshop, it's white. [ATTACH=full]1623926[/ATTACH] Sometimes these coins can get a golden color as seen on this 1858 Flying Eagle Cent. This color is quite acceptable, although one of the grading services had the nerve or ignorance to send it back to me in body bag as "questionable toning." Today this piece is in an NGC MS-64 holder. [ATTACH=full]1623927[/ATTACH] Sometimes these coins can acquire multiple colors as is seen on this 1864 copper-nickel cent. These coins can bring premium prices. [ATTACH=full]1623928[/ATTACH] The one color to avoid is black. When these coins corrode, they usually turn black and can be crusty. Once and a while you will see a green spots on these pieces. You should avoid those problem coins also.[/QUOTE]
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