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 Replies: 16 / Views: 4,723 |
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
My first post. Recently I've been thinking of getting into collecting large cents. Two recent purchases (1798 and 1802) are both very dark, in fact, I would call them black. It is hard to examine them unless they are brightly lit. I do kinda like their overall look. Is there such a thing as a large cent that is too dark? I guess the main thing is that I like them, but I don't want to start down a road of collecting dark large cents that have low resale value. Ideas? P.S. I've posted the dealer pic of one of the coins.  Edited by Stephen Z
09/09/2015 4:00 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
I would take the1798 in a heart beat. Can you post the reverse.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
oops  to CCF Stephen Z. |
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Moderator
 United States
188770 Posts |
Difficult to photograph, but I like them a lot. to the Community! |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
594 Posts |
My eye goes right to that color
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Pillar of the Community
United States
589 Posts |
Quote:
Is there such a thing as a Large Cent that is too dark? Yes, this one:  This is how it looks with low angle lighting.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2233 Posts |
I would probably buy the '94 regardless of the damage. That coin has a huge amount of history in it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2362 Posts |
Stephen Many of these old coppers are chocolate brown and often dark chocolate brown. I have several of these and see it as natural and acceptable and not a reason for a reduction in value. Just my opinion of course.. Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Very dark to black patinas in ancient bronze coins, irrespective of condition, are very commom.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I too collect those. And I find that the only way to get lots of them is to just live with how dark they get. |
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New Member
United States
20 Posts |
I collect U.S. colonial coins, including state coppers, and some of these do come very dark. You should know that the surfaces and color of colonial copper and early large cents do affect resale value, to a certain extent. In general, collectors prefer coppers that have naturally smooth surfaces, without porosity, and that are light tan to medium brown. It is hard to quantify how much this preference affects value -- it varies from collector to collector. And there is not universal rule -- I have a Connecticut copper that is a choice AU, but is very very dark, and it is still a beautiful coin. But keep in mind that surfaces and colors do affect value.
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Valued Member
 United States
123 Posts |
Many thanks to all who commented. This was very helpful!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
827 Posts |
It is very rare to find a red or even red brown large cent that is original and hasn't been cleaned. All of mine are chocolate brown. Nice and original. |
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Valued Member
United States
297 Posts |
There is the Green patina layer--that appears black. I can see it to the right side more. From a level 1--10,this one is a level 1 porous. So that's what takes the lighting of the coin very dark look. If u took a magnifier x4 it would show fine small holes evenly more or less on the surface fields. When light hits the surface of a coin like this---the micro uneven nature creates valleys shadows-making the light absorb into the coin Of course there are very obvious other corroded or more severely porous- this one seems very nice still. VF30 netVF20 in my opinion. Nice case in study coin here
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Welcome to the CCF, Stephen Z.
That's a great coin, and IMHO, that color is quite attractive. Copper coins come in a broad array of browns. Like others on the CCF, I'd welcome seeing a pic of this one's reverse. Offhand, it appears that you have a good eye for buying coppers.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
I've been looking at this one since you first posted it.
I like the color.
Not so sure if it is true environmental damage or not. Hard to say what caused the micro-porosity environment or quality of the planchet. Have to remember they used whatever source was available for the copper.
Regardless, it is a lovely example!
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Replies: 16 / Views: 4,723 |
Posted 09/09/2015 4:05 pm
