How can you tell the difference between BRONZE and COPPER?

tlhoy

I hope this is not a stupid question!
Glenn

lordmarcovan

By looking at what the Krause catalog says.




(Seriously, though- it's not easy, but copper is often a darker brown. Not always, though.)

elverno

Bronze is usually lighter and copper, redder. But of course not always. Pretty definitive eh?

lordmarcovan

There you have it. That's about as definitive as it gets.

Unless you're a metallurgist or scientific geek who can test the specific gravity or whatever they do.

I just look in Krause.

spinaker2000

Bronze makes a deeper tone when it lands on the sidewalk.

satootoko

<< <i>Unless you're a metallurgist or scientific geek who can test the specific gravity or whatever they do, just look in Krause. >>


That's what I do.

lordmarcovan

Oops.

Veridicus

Well I'm not sure if you're asking how to tell the difference in looks, or what the different definitions mean. Copper is a pure mixture, and bronze is copper mixed with tin, usually about 5%. Brass is copper mixed with zinc in various proportions. From a visual standpoint, coins made of bronze look more "crisp" if that makes sense. Copper and bronze are reddish and brass is yellowish.