Interesting pattern on this 1793 Flowing Hair Cent

TopographicOceans

I had a 1909 Lincoln with this sort of pattern.
Anybody know what causes this? I guess it's just from the metal mix in the planchet?

commoncents05

<< <i> just from the metal mix in the planchet? >>



Yes. Often called woodgrain pattern, it is very common on early Lincolns, especially 1909.

-Paul

AMRC

Copper was not mixed well enough.

lasvegasteddy

sweet ol skool woody there
congrats

i'm not sure it would straight grade at our host though with that old staple scratch though
still a jewel for one sweet date

CaptHenway

The woodgrain effect on cents in the early 1900's was caused by the Mint not mixing the copper, tin and zinc together properly, which resulted in regions that had a higher than standard concentration of tin and/or zinc. This made those regions brassy.

Since large cents were supposed to be pure copper, I suspect that they bought some scrap copper that had some bits of brass mixed in with it and the bits did not mix in with the copper.

Edited for spelling.

Icollecteverything

I've seen some woodgrain copper before but that's like tiger maple.

Walkerguy21D

I like CaptHenway's answer.....I was a little skeptical this was the same woodgrain toning we see on some Indian and Lincoln cents,
but his explanation makes sense.