Posted 08/31/2009 2:05 pm
Red(the original copper orange color of a freshly minted cent) is always the best color to have but you will only find it on uncirculated or lightly circulated coins. Copper is a reactive metal and will easily oxidize to a Brown color. Once a cent starts circulating, that oxidation process starts immediately. You can also have Brown uncirculated cents, it is just a matter of long term exposure to an environment that will oxidize the coin. There is also an intermediate color known as Red-Brown. Most grading services will certify a coin as RD if it is greater than 95% red, RB is 95-5% red, and BN is less than 5% red.
With much older copper coins, red color can be suspect and sometimes indicates that the coin has been cleaned. If you are just dealing with Lincoln cents, that is not so much of a problem as it is with 19th century issues. As for value, a RD coin can be worth multiples of a BN coin but sometimes the RB coins are the best buys when carefully selected for eye appeal and maximum amount of red color.
With much older copper coins, red color can be suspect and sometimes indicates that the coin has been cleaned. If you are just dealing with Lincoln cents, that is not so much of a problem as it is with 19th century issues. As for value, a RD coin can be worth multiples of a BN coin but sometimes the RB coins are the best buys when carefully selected for eye appeal and maximum amount of red color.
