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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,362 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
521 Posts |
Why is the left obverse field of many (graded) uncirculated Indian Head cents darker than the raised devices and the fields between the lettering? The surrounding fields on the rest of the obverse and reverse show the same but the left, because it is the largest, is the most noticeable. It almost seems like these coins were rubbed or cleaned and then retoned. This is because the toning doesn't gradually blend but transitions rather abruptly. I have been looking at a lot of these and don't know why there is, what seems to be, an irregular toning pattern. I have noticed it on all of them, except maybe for the real gems. Thanks |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1566 Posts |
Being the largest open area on the coin I suspect that the open field attracts more sulfides that the enclosed areas but that's just speculation on my part. I've also noticed that even in nearly all brown specimens that some red is usually retained close to the lettering.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I can't speak other than theoretically but I might imagine the fact that there is so little actual metal flow in that area during the strike could mean the surfaces age differently than the rest.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1704 Posts |
Quote:
I can't speak other than theoretically but I might imagine the fact that there is so little actual metal flow in that area during the strike could mean the surfaces age differently than the rest.  The texture/density of that area would be slightly different than the smaller areas of open fields in and around the lettering and devices which could be why the metal there reacts differently under the same conditions. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Yeah, you can assume everything around devices - even the field-level areas - physically moved under strike pressure. It changes the surface of the metal, causing things like the toning pullaway you see on Morgan toners.
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Valued Member
United States
324 Posts |
Is this noticed on other coppers? Or just IHCs? I would like a picture Johnny!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1566 Posts |
This phenomenon is observed on large cents as well.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
521 Posts |
Hey BluegrassRiver, Here are a few images from current listings on ebay: two are raw and two are slabbed ms 64.     |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
Crevices and such are protected from direct contact by handling and such. High areas on devices and open areas of the field are the least protected and get the most contact from hands or other objects that might have contaminants. Just because the coin has survived 100+ years without wear doesn't mean every hand it has passed through has succeeded in only handling the coin by its edges.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,362 |
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Posted 02/21/2015 2:46 pm
