Question For Our Cousins Across The Pond

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,670
moose59 Pillar of the Community United States 732 Posts	Posted 03/09/2020 12:42 pm question for our cousins across the pond. I have these two 1900 pennies, and they couldn't be more different. One is Bronze colored and one is copper colored. YES I know they are made of BRONZE, so don't tell me the obvious. I just want to know why the difference in color. Report this Post to the Staff

PaddyB Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 945 Posts	Posted 03/09/2020 2:43 pm I can't be certain but it looks as if the lighter colour one has been cleaned at some stage, and then possibly lacquered? There was a big fad about lacquering old coins during the 60s and 70s... I have numerous examples in both shades - probably more of the dark grey than the red. Report this Post to the Staff
moose59 Pillar of the Community United States 732 Posts	Posted 03/09/2020 2:47 pm I thought of that also but I have several years that are the same. One brass colored and one copper colored. I cannot see me getting a bunch of them like that. Report this Post to the Staff
NumisRob Bedrock of the Community United Kingdom 17985 Posts	Posted 03/09/2020 4:42 pm I don't know the answer but I can tell you from memory - and from duplicates that I've saved - that almost all Victorian veiled head pennies of 1895-1901 that were still in circulation around 1970 were toned almost black like the dark one you've pictured. 1902 pennies of Edward VII were the same color, but 1903 ones were usually a paler, almost yellow color. My Trade List: https://goccf.com/t/194596 My Wants List: https://goccf.com/t/191710 Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16857 Posts	Posted 03/09/2020 7:15 pm I have noticed a great deal of variability with the colour of British copper coins. I haven't noticed any pattern. It's not something happening at the mint that's causing it. The official composition of British bronze coins (95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc) remained constant from 1860 to 1922. At this time period (beginning in 1897), farthings were being artificially blackened in the mint, so they would not be confused with gold half-sovereigns. However, this would not have happened with pennies. I think it's simply a case of different life-histories of each coin. Sulfur in the atmosphere and environment will turn copper coins black. Coins circulating in industrial cities will turn black quicker than coins circulating in rural areas far from the pollution. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
DavidUK Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2624 Posts	Posted 03/10/2020 2:34 pm I would mirror a previous suggestion about laquer and say old time collectors used to oil them with something... Report this Post to the Staff
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