Spotting Altered Color - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,983
Paul Bulgerin Pillar of the Community United States 3098 Posts	Posted 11/17/2014 8:45 pm One of the coins I recently submitted to NGC came back with an "Uncirculated Details - Altered Color" designation. I was expecting an MS-64 Red Indian Head cent and was completely surprised at the altered color. I have a number of mint state Indians in my collection and didn't have any suspicions that the color on this coin had been altered. Are there things to look for with coppers to detect this? I'd appreciate insights so I don't make this mistake again. Fortunately I didn't pay much for the coin. Thanks. Here's a photo of the coin from the NGC images: Paul Bulgerin Report this Post to the Staff

sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21788 Posts	Posted 11/17/2014 8:54 pm Some bronze red uncirculated coins can tone in a different way to others, it depends on the environment in which they were in. I can understand your surprise, especially when this one has retained mint luster. Perhaps it may be good if some others in the CCF could post some information on artificial toning of red uncirculated coins, with pictures, and showing the variation of results. Report this Post to the Staff
vermontensium Moderator United States 16679 Posts	Posted 11/17/2014 9:02 pm I would love to see a picture of the reverse but on UNC copper, there will usually be uneven color or blotchiness, sort of what I can see on the obverse bottom rim. Blotchiness or a mottled appearance. On circulated copper, it can be slightly harder to spot but on large cents or IHC's for example, where Dellars darkener was used, it's color unevenness..especially around the periphery. On UNC coins, it may affect luster. swcoin.ecrater.com Report this Post to the Staff
Paul Bulgerin Pillar of the Community United States 3098 Posts	Posted 11/17/2014 10:01 pm Here's the NGC image of the reverse. Paul Bulgerin Report this Post to the Staff
kanga Pillar of the Community United States 5825 Posts	Posted 11/18/2014 08:11 am Based on your images it would have fooled me. That's why I buy them slabbed. Report this Post to the Staff
just carl Bedrock of the Community United States 20753 Posts	Posted 11/18/2014 10:05 am Although may well be graded accurately, remember that TPGS's are made up of people and people make errors all the time. This is one of the reasons so many people have a coin sent to another TPGS. Report this Post to the Staff
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