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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,380 |
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Valued Member
United States
77 Posts |
As you probably know, the environment has a huge impact on whether or not copper stays red (or at least on how long it stays red.) Sudden and frequent changes in temperature and humidity can have a real impact on the color of a copper coin, and as someone who lives in the northeast, those changes are something I deal with. I once owned an 1834 Classic Head Half Cent in AU-50 that was pretty red (maybe 75 to 80% red) when I got it. 3 to 5 years later, it was completely brown. So if you live in an area where the temperature and humidity fluctuate dramatically, is spending extra for a full red copper coin a waste of money if it's just going to lose that red color in a few years anyway? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I'd look into some storage techniques. I put dessicant packs in my storage area and also put albums and coins into zip lock bags with another dessicant pack for each. I change the dessicant packs out periodically to keep them fresh.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8715 Posts |
If you store the coin properly, it shouldn't turn brown. I would recommend KenKat's suggestion of using desiccant packs. I would recommend a storage method such as an Airtite holder. You may want to get the coin slabbed if it is of high value.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
IMO don't buy copper coins graded RED.
Too hard to keep them that way.
EXCEPTION: Modern low value coins.
Red-Brown copper will retain that degree of toning for years.
And they are a lot less expensive.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Edited by TypeCoin971793
04/21/2018 2:41 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Theoretically storage methods should be able to overcome any environment given that we live indoors in controlled environments. It's just a matter of how much effort do you want to put into it. More practically yes there are parts of the country where I would stick to BN for copper where RD carries a big premium such as if I lived in Hawaii
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I understand your concern as I also live in the North East . Sure I would love to have some blazing full mint red coppers but I know from 50+ years of collecting it's just not that easy to keep . And rest assured IHC and Lincolns 09-26,PDS are costly in full red . Even if they stay red ,a lot of them start black spotting which really annoys the heck out of me . So IMHO nice RD/BR or sharp glossy brown uncs is the way to go .  |
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Valued Member
 United States
77 Posts |
Why aren't clad coins affected by the environment as much? They're mostly copper. Does mixing it with nickel neutralize the effects? Yes I've seen toned clads. But I've never seen a clad coin change color dramatically in a short period of time. (Although I'm sure it's possible.) A clad quarter could be fifty years old, still circulating, and have the same color as when it was first minted. It would just be heavily worn by that point. I've also seen one cent pieces that are less than ten years old that are almost black. I know that one cent pieces have been mostly zinc since 1982, but the very little copper that it does contain is what's exposed to the elements.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
I've used air tight 2x2 self seals for better than 25 years with no toning, even for my reds.
They cost about 23 cents each, but if the coin is worth owning I don't mind that small amount.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
I remember Bill Jones telling a story about how he got burned buying a red copper coin. I haven't seen him post on here in awhile but I think it was a ms large cent from the 1800's he purchased as a red and it darkened after length of time so it certainly does happen even if it's slabbed.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,380 |
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Posted 04/21/2018 12:28 pm
