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The Lincoln on Mars...the farthest from home money...

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This picture shows just how much detail the MAHLI camera can pick up. It shows a one-cent coin and a few of the symbols printed on a calibration target mounted on Curiosity. The image was acquired from a distance of 2 inches (5 centimeters). The coin is a 1909 penny provided by MAHLI principal investigator Ken Edgett. "Everyone in the United States can recognize the penny and immediately know how big it is, and can compare that with the rover hardware and Mars materials in the same image," Edgett explained. "The public can watch for changes in the penny over the long term on Mars. Will it change color? Will it corrode? Will it get pitted by windblown sand?" Flecks of reddish Martian sand can already be seen on and around the penny. One of the images printed above the penny is a cartoon character called "Joe the Martian."

Comments

  • SeattleSlammerSeattleSlammer Posts: 10,063 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Now that's cool. Thanks for posting it.
  • illini420illini420 Posts: 11,467 ✭✭✭✭✭
    They can take better photos of coins on Mars than I can do here in Los Angeles image
  • I dare say their camera cost a ton...

    It will be interesting to see the changes that occur over the long term exposure...
  • I'm more interested in the condition of the Viking coinage that the Mars Rover will eventually uncover.image

    Forum AdministratorPSA & PSA/DNA ForumModerator@collectors.com | p 800.325.1121 | PSAcard.com

  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭
    The pics are good.
    If that was either of the 2 DDOs we could make a long range cherry pick from it image
    Ed
  • illini420illini420 Posts: 11,467 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I'm more interested in the condition of the Viking coinage that the Mars Rover will eventually uncover.image >>



    I know of a couple of Vikings that made it to Mars... don't know if they had coins, but I do have medals of the Vikings image

    imageimage

    imageimage


  • << <i>

    << <i>I'm more interested in the condition of the Viking coinage that the Mars Rover will eventually uncover.image >>



    I know of a couple of Vikings that made it to Mars... don't know if they had coins, but I do have medals of the Vikings image

    imageimage

    imageimage >>



    Those are cool! image
  • SwampboySwampboy Posts: 13,114 ✭✭✭✭✭
    O.k.
    Forget about SDBs and guns safes.

    Ken Edgett has bragging rights to the safest place to store early Lincolns.

    "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso

  • joefrojoefro Posts: 1,872 ✭✭
    It is also a VDB if anyone is wondering. image
    Lincoln Cent & Libertad Collector
  • Cam40Cam40 Posts: 8,146
    I imagine if its exposed to the martian atmosphere that there will be no detail left after a a few years of
    sand storms. Will it change color? I,m guessing no. Without oxygen present its not likely to turn green
    or anything right?


  • << <i>I imagine if its exposed to the martian atmosphere that there will be no detail left after a a few years of
    sand storms. Will it change color? I,m guessing no. Without oxygen present its not likely to turn green
    or anything right? >>



    It already looks quite different than when they first sent it up. It looked harshly cleaned with hairlines all over it.
  • DuPapaDuPapa Posts: 495 ✭✭


    << <i>I imagine if its exposed to the martian atmosphere that there will be no detail left after a a few years of
    sand storms. Will it change color? I,m guessing no. Without oxygen present its not likely to turn green
    or anything right? >>



    I'm not so sure there is no oxygen... mars is red because of iron oxide i think..
  • OverdateOverdate Posts: 7,159 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I imagine if its exposed to the martian atmosphere that there will be no detail left after a a few years of
    sand storms. Will it change color? I,m guessing no. Without oxygen present its not likely to turn green
    or anything right? >>


    Mars' atmosphere is very thin (about 0.6% the Earth's atmospheric pressure) and is composed of 95% carbon dioxide and 3% nitrogen, neither of which is likely to react with bronze. I think it would take a long time for sandstorms to have a noticeable effect on the coin.

    My Adolph A. Weinman signature :)

  • Maybe it's just dust covering it but I think it looks better already.

    image


  • << <i>Maybe it's just dust covering it but I think it looks better already.

    image >>



    The photo on the left above looks jacked - see the color of the paper(?) ring around it. Those hairlines are visible in the right photo. WHO is this mars cartoon character? Should we not have sent what's his face with his little Roman hat and his SPACE MODULATOR? I thought Mars was determined to be less red than previously thought in the 1976(?) landing(s)?

    Best,
    Eric
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭

    Wow! Now that slab has to be worth a lot! image


    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • Cam40Cam40 Posts: 8,146
    Anyone remember the little Quisp character from the `60s cereal?
    Thats what it looks like,little propeller beanie.


  • << <i>I'm more interested in the condition of the Viking coinage that the Mars Rover will eventually uncover.image >>

    You guys don't get it, he is referring the THE VIKINGS. Erik the Red and Leif Erickson were more ambitious than history gives them credit for!

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