Why can't old US pennies be this red?

bidask

fc

could the mix of the alloy play a huge part in how long the red stays?

obviously the env is a huge factor...

PrivateCoinCollector

We needed to spend all of ours, and there was little in the way of an elite class that thought the crude "modern coinage" of the day could ever be worth preserving.

Coxe

The little that was coined was needed for commerce here.

Cam40

Why can't old US pennies be this red?
they can be if theyre re-strikes

Hugegut

I wonder what the oldest coin is that is still red.

AUandAG

Mine are that nice when cleaned, too! That's common practice in Europe.

bob

Gemini

Why can't old US pennies be this red?....because we didn't know how to make pennies only cents.

Texast

Interesting you brought up the topic of metals used, I ran accross this website the other day that I found about metals and there alloy's uses in coins since coinage began. Very interesting and educational. Metals Used in Coins

droopyd

A very very few are still that red. But it takes near complete protection from the air -- leave a bright red copper coin out in the open and it will oxidize over time. Needless to say, even coins intended to be preserved were rarely protected that well.

MacCrimmon

That's a halfpenny.


Here's another blazer....from the same hoard, most likely.

keets

i doubt they're "original" although they still look very, very nice.

bidask

<< <i>i doubt they're "original" although they still look very, very nice. >>

Keets, they are original.

Cgb

If they were red, that would make cents...