Lincoln Cent Questionable Color And Red To Red/Brown Grading

the line between RB and RD is very subjective in situations where its not apparent immediately upon viewing the coin.

RD is defined as 95-100% red
RB a minimum of 5% both sides

When its not readily apparent because of the amount of red remaining we have a circular coin and its not easy to judge what qualifies as 5% and both sides must exhibit that.

personally I think toning makes a difference. for example on your posted coins

TL does not exhibit any red - color BN

BL may have a small amount of red however the brown overwhelms this coin. there does not appear to be the obligatory 5% so it would also pull a BN imo

TR appears to have enough red undertones (based on your photo) to qualify for an RB however you would need the reverse to determine this.

BR no red noted - BN

As to the color, perhaps if you were looking for exceptional examples or to grade by ngc it would be of value to look for these desirable market color so some more general info I collected here. Eye appeal is the most subjective attribute of a coin, but there are many standards shared by numismatists. Exceptional eye appeal may include attributes such as vibrant, colorful toning; intense luster; or in the case of Proof coins, especially strong cameo contrast.

Fewer than 1% of the coins graded by NGC get a Star rating. The star is like a beauty pageant for coins, to decide if they have "exceptional eye appeal." The grade designation is not as important as how the coin looks compared to others in its grade. NGC admits that these evaluations can be subjective, but If any one of the quality-control graders objects to a Star designation, it's over. To be considered for a Star Rating, a coin must first meet certain quality standards. It must have a full vibrant luster and be free of any distracting or obvious planchet irregularities, and display no bothersome spots or blemishes. Coins submitted for stardom can be either "white" (untoned) or toned. Toned coins face even more hurdles. The toning must be considered attractive, with good contrast if there is more than one tone present. It also must have full luster unimpeded by the toning. Toned coins can be of a single color or multicolored but cannot have any areas that are dark brown, approaching black. https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/806/

Thanx for the info. It seems red and red/brown are not as much of a concern as I thought. The real concern for my education before I start to venture into purchasing and upgrading my cents are coins with questionable color.

For instance indiangoldeagle pointed out what I suspected on the 21s (BR coin). Not only does it have a shine to it but it has a brassy color. I can pick out cleaned coins on silver and cents that have noticeable hairlines but with color alterations in copper coinage there is lacking in my ability to make judgements.

What are the red flags for undesirable color? What are the signs for altered color on copper or bronze coins? Is this just going to come with experience or can we post some examples of coins that have been altered/cleaned or otherwise treated in a way to make them not market acceptable.

Here is one I find color questionable

Most likely an old, old cleaning, it just too dull.

GP is certainly generous and an excellent person all around! Most of what I've been posting is a result of his generosity and outstanding character! His dedication to the hobby and desire to learn is unmatched by anyone that I've ever met.