Red, RB, etc

[krybulon]

just beginner's question: when do we talk about Lincoln Cent being Red, and Brown ... are these new, shiny cents, straight from the bank Red or Brown ? Is Red something that cents get while "aging" or they are getting Brown ... I see many cents from 60-ties being kind of dirty-brownish ... is it brown color we are talking about ? I know this question can be funny, but I really start in this "business" and even if I know the difference between colors it's kind of confusing to me ...
Best regards,
Andy.

[nightowl]

Brown is good red-brown is better and red is best. These guys on here i'm sure will have alot better descriptions or a site to check. Bu-red is the shiney ones your talking about and brown are the aged ones. I'm in the same boat as you with no reference books. Plan on changing that though.

[krybulon]

thanks for replying, and here is what I got from wscoin.com

Andy,
The term Red is used to describe the color of an untarnished copper cent. It
does not have any special content in it.
Thank you,
Randy
wscoin.com
***
So, Red is just "brand" new coin and Brown "aged" one ...

[CCC]

I think nightowl's avatar is a 55 SSS. It would be Red. My avatar would be Red also. I'm not that keen on colors but I also think someone will come along with a illustration. Welcome again.

[Steven]

When struck a cent will appear close to a a bright red-orange. From the point of contact with the atmosphere it will begin to oxidize. Other factors will assist as well in the coloration changes to brown such as contact with chemicals, oils from fingers touching the coins, sunlight, storage choices, cleaning etc. Many causes for the change. Color would/could be a the deciding factor in the grade of a coin but the weight of that factor would lie with the grader. Folks like the bright and shiny so you can see by auction realized prices.

Hope this is close to right but probably a weak explaination. Possibly someone with a lot more experienc can add to this or correct any mistakes

[JeanK]

Hi Andy,
Yep, red is best in most cases. There are many phases in the red to brown aging and which are calculated in the percentage of how much red is on a coin. Brown is just brown... nice milk chocolate to deep brown, pretty much all the same. However, you may find that a nice shiny coin in a roll is not always the best coin in the roll. The difference is the rarity and condition.

When you look at coin pictures, especially coppers, remember, the lighting which was used for the photography can be quite different than the actual color of the coin.

My avatar is classified as BN (Brown).
JeanK

[amac44]

Welcome!!!!!

[1gtsfan]

here are some pics, brown, red, red brown. this is a great topic.

[1gtsfan]

red (i think) first pic i used a flash 2nd no flash. 30x scope. is the D doubled because i moved or is it really doubled? this coin is so shiny it hurts my eyes under the scope.

[nightowl]

D does kinda look doubled. I use one of those little hand held lighted 60x scopes, them b/u coins rip my eyes up!

[1gtsfan]

D does kinda look doubled. I use one of those little hand held lighted 60x scopes, them b/u coins rip my eyes up!

i hurts so good