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 Replies: 9 / Views: 7,225 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I have noticed several sellers on ebay listing BU RED Lincoln Wheat cents; they are attractive but they all have the same look to them and that gives me pause. I will sometimes see on a TPG slab that a Lincoln Cent is indicated as "Recolored". Are there any indicators for detecting these when in raw condition? Is this a common doctoring technique? There's not a lot out on the web about this. Ken |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1081 Posts |
I would like to know too but IHC. I bought a 1902 Unc. IHC from Great Southern Coins on ebay and sent it off for grading, but came back "altered color." It has the original mint luster as far as I can tell, at least it has the cart wheel luster and I couldn't see anything wrong with it under magnification. I'm still new at this, but I would like to know too any method to detect this. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
I'm still new at this, but I would like to know too any method to detect this. Stay away from GSC auctions  But seriously, they are well known to sell coins that are completely messed with(cleaned, recolored, altered, etc) so you take a big chance by bidding on their auctions. The best way to detect recoloring is to be able to recognize what natural Red color looks like. Spend a few hours looking at the images from the Heritage archives, there are thousands of Lincolns and IHCs in the archives. Go to shows and handle as many Red coins as you can, rotate them in the light and pay attention to the color. Experience really is the best way to detect it. However, if you are relying solely on digital images you will not be able to catch them all because of differences in lighting techniques, camera equipment, and outright photo editing. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4085 Posts |
Thanks, biokemist. I really do need to start hitting more shows.
What I think I have learned so far is that Lincoln cents that appear to have rich, frosty luster may be recolored. Almost like the frosting on a cake. That seems like a semi-common theme. But it's a really challenge to tell online and they can be quite attractive looking.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I always thought recolored cents were recolored to look like age after being cleaned/dipped and would make them brown. I didn't know you could recolor them to make them red also. I guess its a good thing I don't collect Lincoln Cents because I have just learned something today
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2150 Posts |
Edited by jokingjoker
11/13/2010 5:50 pm
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New Member
United States
18 Posts |
The only way to tell is to have it out of the container.With gloved hands you do a 360 rotation in natural light and and look for a glimmered swirl.It takes much practice with varios grades and cleaned coins.You will notice differences in the swirls.
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Moderator
 United States
16677 Posts |
Quote:I will sometimes see on a TPG slab that a Lincoln Cent is indicated as "Recolored". Let me guess, ANACS. I think I see more ANACS holders that say "cleaned" or "recolored" than any other TPG. swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Yes, ANACS. Now that I think about it, NGC uses "Altered Color" in its Details slab. PCGS uses "Questionable Color". I may do a little google work with those terms and see what I can find as well.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I've heard this recolored stuff about Lincoln Cents and Indian Heads also for some time now. I go to lots of coin shows and have asked dealers about this and usually they tell me it's sort of a hoax. Usually coins that are electroplated with Copper tend to appear recolored. I doubt there is a paint, cleaner, substance that actually recolors Copper with out adding a layer of new Copper over the old. At least so far at coin shows no one appears to know or refuses to disclose who or how it's done. I have noticed that many Cents that are polished with auto waxes with cleaners come out looking like new and or proofs. One thing I've learned about reprocessing Cents is the 1943. I've started a collection of all the wierd variations of those. I've learned from dealers that some are Chromed, Zinced, Tinned, Coppered and possilbly plated with Radium.  I do like the Copper ones though since I've shown them to people and told them they are worth thousands of dollars. If on ebay, I'd be carefull of almost anything nowadays when it comes to coins. If a coin appears to be brilliant, bright shinny Copper and the details are worn, something is wrong. |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 7,225 |
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Posted 11/11/2010 11:57 am
