Colors Of Pennies

It's kind of strange that we call brand new pennies "red", when they're actually kind of an orange color. Then when they start to tone red, we still call them red. If they turn a little brown, then we call them red/brown, and when fully brown we call them brown. Either way, they're still usually uncirculated pennies, or at least AU. With older, scarcer Lincoln cents, the "red" coins can be worth dramatically more than "red/brown" coins, sometimes as much as twice as much! And sometimes "red/brown" coins can be worth twice as much as "brown" coins. All else being equal, I prefer the red coins.

Personally I believe the person that came up with these descriptions was color blind.

Seeking: Is it OK to call cents Pennies

Rainman

What I do is just put any coin in an album to fill the slots. Regardless of color or grade. Then as I aquire a better one that is in my set, I replace the one in the set with that one. The one from that set goes into a 2x2. When there is sufficient duplicates in 2x2's, I start another set. Now set 2 is lesser in grade and color than set 1. Presently have 10 completed sets of Lincoln Cents with set 1 in almost all MS grades and all fairly RED(orange I guess). Presently 2x2 duplicates are piling up so may have to start set 11.
Consider doing that with your sets. It's only pennies you know. Some of the problems with colorations in cents (pennies) is the handling of them. Many people shine them for fun, use them for examples of auto cleaners and/or waxes, dip in acid for chem lab experiments, etc. Some aquire wear in pockets but maintain the original color due to rubbing. Many almost new ones take on a brownish color due to high humidity and heat areas of our country. Some attain a greenish patina due to exposure to large amounts of Carbon Dioxide and moisture. I've found coins in a cash register in a bar sometime take on a odd color if there to long. Of course that depends on the bar, their clients and the amount of smoking too. Have you ever heard that a pennie in a Martini is supposed to be good luck at the bar? Probably not if you swallow it.

you are mistaken color for grade, these are two different things, a uncirculated cent can be ms-67 and be fully brown, and a coin can also be ms-60 and be fully red. The color of the coin has nothing to do with the technical grade of the coin

i wonder if the grading services will have to start adding Green and Yellow standards for Zincs as people get them graded... I've got a virtual rainbow accumulating at the end of my desk

Just a question while we are talking about cents and pennies, does the origin of the naming of cents 'pennies' come from English background where they have been in currency for some time or is it German after the pfennig. Please explain.
regards

The British term Penny is etymologically related to the German Pfennig. The use of the term Penny in the USA is related to British heritage; however, use of that term is technically improper.

Vince220, The "Ultimate Goal" would be to have a comple RED set. But Vince my advice would be to look at the strike of the coin. Realizing that each year and each mint had different quality of strikes. This is also a good way to see if you suspect if a coin has been cleaned or not. A 1909,10,11...ect with a lot of wear on the high areas of the coin and the color bright red would be a pretty good indicator to me that the coin has been cleaned. A little research and a little knowledge will save you a lot of money in the long run! You are in the right place for both in this forum. Good luck! Once you reach 50 posts, check out BadThad's Cents for sale and others. Quality coins at a fair price.