Analyzing woodgrained S Mint small cents
shylock
Posts: 4,288 ✭✭✭
Russ's 1908-S post is food for thought.
The most knowledge lending post on Russ's thread is Russ's, concerning variegated woodgrain coppers (and coin photography):
In-hand it's actually very close to a full red designation. Large images tend to magnify the wood grain toning and obscure color a bit.
To understand this you have to appreciate the two types of woodgrain S Mint small cents:
Some have deep, thick, easily seen veins of tin/zinc imbedded in otherwise brilliant pure copper surfaces. This type of woodgrain is common in coppernickel IHs but is very rare in bronze S mint coins. These are the poorest mixes of the bronze alloy, yet ironically can be very pleasing to the eye. I've seen a couple of beautiful small cents with woodgrain like this.
This PCGS 64RD has sold for crazy $$ at least twice, and I think it's the most beautiful 09-S I've ever seen.
But most have variegated woodgrain toning. Russ's 08-S is a perfect example. These are better mixed alloys, yet poorly mixed enough to see a mozaic of tin/zinc evenly distributed in small batches within the pure bronze. I've owned several coins like this, including an 1877, and I agree with Russ that this woodgrain mozaic is magnified under a good camera lens. They can play games with the human eye when looking at them under a glass and they play absolute havoc with a finely tuned camera lens. The camera sees all but in this case it sees too much -- the blend of alloys is much better appreciated from a distance.
The most knowledge lending post on Russ's thread is Russ's, concerning variegated woodgrain coppers (and coin photography):
In-hand it's actually very close to a full red designation. Large images tend to magnify the wood grain toning and obscure color a bit.
To understand this you have to appreciate the two types of woodgrain S Mint small cents:
Some have deep, thick, easily seen veins of tin/zinc imbedded in otherwise brilliant pure copper surfaces. This type of woodgrain is common in coppernickel IHs but is very rare in bronze S mint coins. These are the poorest mixes of the bronze alloy, yet ironically can be very pleasing to the eye. I've seen a couple of beautiful small cents with woodgrain like this.
This PCGS 64RD has sold for crazy $$ at least twice, and I think it's the most beautiful 09-S I've ever seen.
But most have variegated woodgrain toning. Russ's 08-S is a perfect example. These are better mixed alloys, yet poorly mixed enough to see a mozaic of tin/zinc evenly distributed in small batches within the pure bronze. I've owned several coins like this, including an 1877, and I agree with Russ that this woodgrain mozaic is magnified under a good camera lens. They can play games with the human eye when looking at them under a glass and they play absolute havoc with a finely tuned camera lens. The camera sees all but in this case it sees too much -- the blend of alloys is much better appreciated from a distance.
Paul <> altered surfaces <> CoinGallery.org
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Comments
first Lincoln Cent Stewart Blay ever bought.
And a more conventional wood grained Lincoln.
Connor Numismatics Website
We have discussed this before.The alloy's weren't as well mixed as today.Every so often we need posts like this for those that haven't seen them.
Registry 1909-1958 Proof Lincolns
That's also one of AmericanCopper's coins that I got to image.
Russ, NCNE
Semper ubi sub ubi
AmericanCopper - Your welcome, and yes I do know (and appreciate) all the great coins you've passed on to Russ to image. Your coins have provided the best Indian Cent posts on the forum for the past few months.
My thread was meant as much for buyers as photographers. S-Mint IH's are among the toughest coins to grade from their image, Russ's post of your 08-S proved that from the wide range of grades provided by forum members.