MickeyBee.
Posted 10/25/2011 6:08 pm
Was your penny painted red or does it have a bright copper color?
If it has been painted red (which I have a seen a few of, though not 1919 specifically) it was not minted that way, somebody painted it.
ALL 1919 pennies were minted red (RD) but over time, the copper has patinad (tarnished) most of them to varying shades of brown. That's why pennies that still have their original mint luster are valuable - because most of them have oxidized (when it's a silver coin, we call the tarnish toning) and are no longer red.
Some people have used metal polish to take the oxidation off of the penny - this is an altered color or recolored or "improperly cleaned" coin. Pennies that have been polished are worth significantly less than their counterparts that have not been, although grade does factor into it.
To determine the grade of the coin, have a look at PCGS' photograde site. To the untrained eye, it's hard to tell the difference between an MS and an XF penny. Once you've graded a few dozen, it should be easier to determine exactly what grade it is.
Hope that helps - yes, pictures would help a lot! If you're able to post a large picture - mostly of the coin, not the space around the coin, in focus and with lots of light (though not glaring light), it will be easier for us to have a look at your find, give you a grade and a determination on the surfaces.
Looking forward to your pictures! =)
If it has been painted red (which I have a seen a few of, though not 1919 specifically) it was not minted that way, somebody painted it.
ALL 1919 pennies were minted red (RD) but over time, the copper has patinad (tarnished) most of them to varying shades of brown. That's why pennies that still have their original mint luster are valuable - because most of them have oxidized (when it's a silver coin, we call the tarnish toning) and are no longer red.
Some people have used metal polish to take the oxidation off of the penny - this is an altered color or recolored or "improperly cleaned" coin. Pennies that have been polished are worth significantly less than their counterparts that have not been, although grade does factor into it.
To determine the grade of the coin, have a look at PCGS' photograde site. To the untrained eye, it's hard to tell the difference between an MS and an XF penny. Once you've graded a few dozen, it should be easier to determine exactly what grade it is.
Hope that helps - yes, pictures would help a lot! If you're able to post a large picture - mostly of the coin, not the space around the coin, in focus and with lots of light (though not glaring light), it will be easier for us to have a look at your find, give you a grade and a determination on the surfaces.
Looking forward to your pictures! =)
