Odd Color On This 1909 V.D.B. Cent

cmerlo1 · April 25, 2018 4:42PM

I got this at a show last weekend, mainly because I'd never seen this color on a Lincoln cent before. I also find it visually pleasing- it's kind of an electrum color- silver with a tinge of gold, and has a really sharp strike and great luster. Any ideas as to what kind of environment would've made it tone this way?

ms70 · April 25, 2018 4:44PM

Looks brass.

cmerlo1 · April 25, 2018 5:06PM

@ms70 said:
Looks brass.

It weighs 3.19 grams, which is probably within tolerance for normal bronze planchet.

coin4sale · April 25, 2018 5:12PM

Interesting and attractive. No knocks against it, however, it may have been cooked. i have witnessed super heated unc copper cents ( cooked in a gas flame )change color from red to blue rainbow to pink and silver gold - very similar to your coin.

OR, maybe it is a RARE off metal trial strike! ?

but, wait, i just noticed - is that a lamination at 4:00 on the reverse? Could be the rare experimental alloy didn't anneal properly in that location!!

OR, maybe its just extra plating material from a plated cent.

Enjoy.

cmerlo1 · April 25, 2018 5:29PM

@coin4sale said:
Interesting and attractive. No knocks against it, however, it may have been cooked. i have witnessed super heated unc copper cents ( cooked in a gas flame )change color from red to blue rainbow to pink and silver gold - very similar to your coin.

OR, maybe it is a RARE off metal trial strike! ?

but, wait, i just noticed - is that a lamination at 4:00 on the reverse? Could be the rare experimental alloy didn't anneal properly in that location!!

OR, maybe its just extra plating material from a plated cent.

Enjoy.

A delamination or planchet flaw- probably toned with the rest of the coin:

ACop · April 25, 2018 5:35PM

@coin4sale said:
Interesting and attractive. No knocks against it, however, it may have been cooked. i have witnessed super heated unc copper cents ( cooked in a gas flame )change color from red to blue rainbow to pink and silver gold - very similar to your coin.

OR, maybe it is a RARE off metal trial strike! ?

but, wait, i just noticed - is that a lamination at 4:00 on the reverse? Could be the rare experimental alloy didn't anneal properly in that location!!

OR, maybe its just extra plating material from a plated cent.

Enjoy.

That's a lot of theories all in one shot.

drwstr123 · April 25, 2018 5:46PM

I've seen many shades of toning depending on the environment it's stored.

bolivarshagnasty · April 25, 2018 6:15PM

From the pictures provided, it looks like the original skin/color has been chemically removed.

tommy44 · April 25, 2018 6:28PM

Dipadidoda?

toyz4geo · April 25, 2018 10:03PM

Hmmmmm.

1Mike1 · April 25, 2018 10:50PM

My first thought was cleaned.

crazyhounddog · April 25, 2018 10:58PM

My first thought is it’s been double dipped cause it looks kinda dull and lifeless.

jmlanzaf · April 25, 2018 11:32PM

It looks like it has a film over it. Might have been in non-archival plastic. Seems non-PVC but it looks like outgassing from a decomposing polymer.

You see a similar coloring on 1960s vintage South African proof sets (for example) from the liner of the case.

Timbuk3 · April 25, 2018 11:52PM

Interesting !!!

cmerlo1 · April 26, 2018 5:15AM

@crazyhounddog said:
My first thought is it’s been double dipped cause it looks kinda dull and lifeless.

It has full cartwheel luster. My lighting makes it look flat.

ricko · April 26, 2018 5:37AM

Well that is different... I have seen many different color cents, though I do not recall seeing one that color... could be some type of dip.... no idea what kind would do that... Cheers, RickO

Desert Moon · April 26, 2018 5:47AM

Not a 'natural' color IMO. Cooked as noted above?

Best, SH

Odd Color On This 1909 V.D.B. Cent

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