What Color is Your Copper Coin? - Grading Them

To accurately grade copper coins, you must be able to describe the color of the copper. Over time the brilliant orange/red color of a freshly minted copper coin, such as a Lincoln cent, will diminish and fade to a deep chocolate brown color. As this degradation of color occurs, there are varying degrees in which both red and brown colors will exist simultaneously on the surface of the coin. This color designation only applies to uncirculated copper coins. All circulated copper coins are assumed to be "brown."

Additionally, depending upon the environment where you store your copper coins, the surface of the copper may turn different colors. These toned coins can be beautiful or ugly. Some copper coins may take on an iridescent golden red. Others may turn deep red with hints of blue and indigo. These beautiful tone colors usually happen over long-term storage in less than optimal coin holders. However, these beautifully toned coins are highly prized by collectors, and they will pay a premium.

Although copper coins can tone into a variety of brilliant colors, be careful of fake coins before you buy them. This is not to say the coins themselves are fake, but there are "coin doctors" that can use a variety of chemistry and physical actions to turn ordinary copper coins into brilliant colors. A professional numismatist can tell the difference between a naturally toned coin and one that has been "doctored." These artificially toned coins are considered damaged and almost worthless to a serious collector.

Other coins may turn dark green or have splotchy black areas. Improperly storing your coins will also cause this ugly toning. Coin collectors shun these ugly coins, and they will not carry the value of a bright orange or beautifully iridescent toned coin. However, collectors of ancient coins and Colonial coins realize that some of these coins may not have been stored in optimal conditions. Therefore, some of them may be acceptable to be placed into a coin collection.

Be careful when purchasing toned coins. It is easy for coin doctors to use chemicals to replicate beautifully toned coins. However, an expert numismatist will be able to tell if the beautiful toning is natural or artificial. Artificially toned coins are considered damaged and will reduce the value of the coin.

Accurately describing the color of your copper coins will help you build a better collection.

01 of 07

The Chemistry of Copper

Heritage Auction Galleries, www.ha.com

Copper is an element with a chemical symbol of "Cu." Compared to other metals, copper is soft, malleable and ideal for the minting of coins since it exists in great abundance. Pure copper has a bright reddish orange color. Unfortunately, copper is also highly reactive to chemicals naturally found in our atmosphere. Oxygen, water vapor, and various acids react with the copper and cause it to tarnish. This oxidation, combined with other chemical reactions, results in its natural bright reddish orange color to gradually turn into a deep chocolate brown color known as patina.
02 of 07

Copper Coin Color: Red (RD)

Copper Cent Red Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com

A copper coin when first struck exhibits a lustrous reddish orange color. These specimens are prized by coin collectors and carry a value premium over identical coins that are starting to turn brown. Most coin collectors will agree that if a copper coin has retained about 90% of its original orange-red color it will be designated as "Red" and abbreviated in its grade as "RD". Be careful of coins that have been chemically treated to restore their brilliant copper color. Using a harsh chemical such as acid, can damage the surface of the coin and greatly reduce its value to a serious coin collector.
03 of 07

Copper Coin Color: Red and Brown (RB)

Copper Cent Red Brown Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com

Once oxidation and chemical reactions start to occur on the surface of the copper coin, its color will start to change from reddish orange to brown. This may include some areas of the coin that are approaching a chocolate brown color while other areas still have some of the original reddish orange color. A common measurement is that between 10% and 90% of the original orange-red color remains. This is termed as a "red brown" coin and is abbreviated as "RB" on coin grading descriptions.
04 of 07

Copper Coin Color: Brown (BN)

Copper Cent Brown Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com

When a majority of the coin's surface has reacted with the atmosphere such that the surface of the coin is almost entirely a chocolate brown color, this is considered a "brown" coin and is designated as "BN" on grading descriptions.

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05 of 07

Colonial Coins

1793 Washington Ship Halfpenny
Heritage Auction Galleries

Colonial copper coins are another area where color helps determine the grade of the coin. It is not unusual to find Colonial copper coins in a variety of colors which may include olive, steel, green, magenta, mahogany, rose, purple, ebony, etc. Some of these different colors are caused by a reaction to the environment in which they were stored. Couple this with impurities contained in the copper and you will get a variety of colors on your colonial coins.
06 of 07

Copper Coin Color: Green

Ancient Copper Coin with Green Oxidation Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, www.ha.com

Many ancient copper coins are recovered from being buried in the ground. The chemicals found in the soil react with copper and cause oxidation that is green in color. On ancient coins this is acceptable and usually noted with the coin's grade. Unfortunately, green oxidation on United States coins is usually considered damaged and renders the coin ungradable.
07 of 07

Shades of Copper

Copper Lincoln pennies arranged by darkening shades of red to brown. Individual Photos courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com; Arranged by James Bucki

Grading the color of copper coins is very subjective, especially when the color is on the boundary between shades. The chart at the left shows twenty coins representing the various shades of red (R), red and brown (RB), and brown (B). Remember that computer photos do not capture the exact color of the coins, so you may notice some inconsistency from one computer to another.