the color brown on large cents...

1907Quarter

I've always wondered the following: a Lincoln cent can be dark brown and be problem free. When it comes to earlier cents and large cents, if it comes in dark brown, some people flash a warning sign. "Large cents are better in a light brown". Is this a double standard? What am I not getting regarding the color brown and large cents/half cents?

1907Quarter

ttt

lordmarcovan

I've never heard people making the "large cents are better in a light brown" statement.

As to differences in color between large cents and Lincoln cents, well- the former are copper and the latter are bronze.

Conder101

It is probably because when a large cent is dark brown it is DARK BROWN. Usually two or three shades darker than your typical dark brown lincoln.

coinguy1

I have not heard of such a distinction. However, perhaps some unfairly associate all of the older, dark brown pieces with corrosion or environmental damage.

ziggy29

I tend to think it's because older copper (large cents and half cents) are pure copper, so they are more likely to get darker.

As long as it's not *really* dark, if the surfaces are relatively uniform in color, original, problem-free and nice for the grade, I have no problem with it -- to me, a little darker is more as they *should* look after all this time (though there are certainly nice, original early coppers in a lighter color).

My half cent (I posted a picture of it in a recent thread, and it's also my "icon") is a bit dark, but not terribly so, and it's very lustrous and original-looking. Plus, it has some cool blue and olive-colored toning when you look at it from certain angles in the light. Because of all that, I like the color.

It's really a matter of personal preference.

USMC_6115

All I know is I'm having a hell of a time finding one that I like..

Barry

Certain early years of Large Cents tend to be VERY dark brown or even black. Even though it is copper, there are always impurities present, and these are what contribute to the color.