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 Replies: 10 / Views: 11,335 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
984 Posts |
This 1975 penny has a ruby red color and people may say acid, tempering and so, and so, but coin looks like of the press and again no idea. Help. thanks.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
I saw that someone here a few months back was able to suggest the conditions needed for a coin to tone one way or the other. Different things can affect toning. Wishing well pH levels, pools, laying on the ground where high iron is present. etc.
Lots of folks like unusually toned coins (e.g. rainbow toned cents, black nickels). If you like it, keep it!
Let's hear what some of the pros are thinking.
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
1) It could actually be red. That's a bit uncommon (most coins aren't kept in relevant conditions), but it isn't particularly rare; it happens occasionally. I have an 1955 cent that's so crazy shiny red it almost hurts, and I've been told it's nowhere near as far as it can get either.
2) It could also just as easily be cleaned (which is probably what you meant by "acid, tempering, and so"). If you just randomly found this coin somewhere, this is probably much more likely, unfortunately.
3) By the way, your color balance is probably way off: you say this coin is red, but on the photos it's more like purplish-blue (with occasional streaks of bluish-purple). This also means I can't reliably say which of the options above is more likely (well, I probably couldn't say anyway, honestly, and someone who actually know this stuff might be able to tell even through the weird color).
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
984 Posts |
thanks. You could probably say that purplish, but reddish on the dark side, but very nice condition.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
984 Posts |
I've done some reading on the NET and what I've learned that aluminum, if not protected, can turn purple, and this coin beginning to look pretty much purple to me. What do you think. thanks.  Can this be a 1975 Aluminum penny? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
Hard to say khasil what caused your coin to tone the way it did, but it's unlikely to be an aluminum coin. You could weigh the coin to confirm. 3.1 grams means it is copper. Aluminum will be lighter.
It is a nice toned coin - sort of reminds me of a tanned leather binding stained with red dye. It appears red/purple/brown in color. Ruby might otherwise be burgundy in that situation.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
984 Posts |
Thank you for replying. The coin is 3.1 grams, this kills the idea of aluminum or who knows and yes it has some kind of a burgundy tone in it. But again the coin is in such a good condition like it was intended to make it this way.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
But again the coin is in such a good condition like it was intended to make it this way. A chemical process of any sort short of acid won't change the striking details. And the reason why it wasn't "made that way" is, well, the Mint didn't use planchets of that color. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
984 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
Aluminum turns kind of gray or white if you let it sit in water for a long time, but I've never heard of it turning purple.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
984 Posts |
If you browse the net for aluminum turning purple you will find quiet a few hits. thanks.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 11,335 |
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Posted 06/14/2014 11:42 pm
