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

cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 8,062 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited April 25, 2018 4:49PM in U.S. Coin Forum

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?

You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.

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    ms70ms70 Posts: 13,958 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks brass.

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    cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 8,062 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ms70 said:
    Looks brass.

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

    You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
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    coin4salecoin4sale Posts: 375 ✭✭✭

    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.

    BT&C
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    cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 8,062 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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:

    You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
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    ACopACop Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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.

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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,053 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

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    bolivarshagnastybolivarshagnasty Posts: 7,359 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

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    tommy44tommy44 Posts: 2,341 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Dipadidoda?

    it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide

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    toyz4geotoyz4geo Posts: 1,506 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Hmmmmm.

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    1Mike11Mike1 Posts: 4,445 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My first thought was cleaned.

    "May the silver waves that bear you heavenward be filled with love’s whisperings"

    "A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
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    crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,230 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 42,286 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 25, 2018 11:34PM

    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.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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    Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Interesting !!! :)

    Timbuk3
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    cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 8,062 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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.

    You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
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    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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

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    Desert MoonDesert Moon Posts: 6,381 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

    Best, SH

    My online coin store - https://desertmoonnm.com/

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