Brown vs Red-Brown

[kloccwork419]

How much of the coin has to be brown to be concidered brown?
If there is still red but the mojority is brown, is it brown or red brown?

I have a few coin that are slabbed as brown but still have nice red around the rim and around lincoln.

[brwnprkns]

From what I've seen in slabs it's 100% red for red
100% brown for brown
And anything in-between for red brown
There can be a wide range of red brown for the same date coin

[kloccwork419]

Go look at my VDB in the trading post area of this forum. There is alot of red on it. The obv has the most brown but I think PCGS messed up

[jcuve]

It's confusing. You'll see something with a touch of tone labeled red than something similar with just a tad or tone labeled red-brown. The problem is the price difference between red and red-brown (or red-brown and brown) can be extreme even though the literal difference between two given coins may be minor. The label red-brown (and brown) have, in some ways, a stigma associated with them – thus collectors in some circumstances shy away from those coins.

The problem could have been alleviated ages ago with a system of some sort that, in a sense, graded or determined the color on a broader scale. Something like a 1-5 scale, labeled like: 1BR and 5RD with 2, 3, & 4 indicating differing levels of red and brown. I have seen old (was it PCI?) slabbed coins that tried to give the red a percentage, but that would be awfully hard to do in some circumstances such as a coin, where the whole coin evenly is turning a light red-brown.

[jcuve]

Go look at my VDB in the trading post area of this forum. There is alot of red on it. The obv has the most brown but I think PCGS messed up

Maybe I should know this, but does PCGS have a predetermined criteria listed somewhere on their site that would give clarity to the rational behind their color labels for Lincoln cents?

[kloccwork419]

Have no idea, but look at another angle of the same coin. Do you think it should be Brown or Red-Brown? I mean, its only a $22 difference between the 2, its just that I think it looks Red-Brown

[jcuve]

I am going to make one final point involving color theory that anyone reading this can think about.


A color next to another color produces relative results, that is, the appearance of one color is altered by its juxtaposition to another color. It could be possible that an overall dark brown Lincoln cent could have areas that appear red, when in fact they are just redder areas of brown. It would just be the context which made the difference. I am not at all suggesting this is the situation with your coin Jason – as I have not seen it in person. The pictures do make the coin appear red-brown. I just say this as it could, in some situations, be the case.

[brwnprkns]

I'm at work and my computer sucks for color.
I know PCGS is much tougher on the red brown, they also cater to the dealers not the collectors.
If a coin is questionable try submitting it through a dealer for a higher grade.

1884 submitted by me, solid for the grade
1901 submitted by Valley Coins, questionable-- mostly brown with tone solid MS 65

[1sgret]

Have no idea, but look at another angle of the same coin. Do you think it should be Brown or Red-Brown? I mean, its only a $22 difference between the 2, its just that I think it looks Red-Brown

I would go with Red/Brown on the one shown.

[kloccwork419]

I would go with Red/Brown on the one shown.

They have it as Brown

http://www.lincolncentresource.net/forums/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=139

[RWBILLER]

Hi:
According to charles daughtrey's book, "looking thr Lincoln Cents" - which by the way in my opinion has the best chapter on lincoln cent grading says: "95% red = red, 5% red or less = bron - everything inbetween is RB.
Thanks
Roger

[kloccwork419]

That coin has more then 5% red.

[coppercoins]

Less than 10% brown is red.

Less than 10% red is brown.

Everything else is red-brown.

Coins can have one mixture of colors when slabbed, then change through the years...especially copper based coins. Some coins slabbed as red could turn red-brown or brown in the holder. Just think about that.

[Brad]

Less than 10% brown is red.

Less than 10% red is brown.

Everything else is red-brown.

Coins can have one mixture of colors when slabbed, then change through the years...especially copper based coins. Some coins slabbed as red could turn red-brown or brown in the holder. Just think about that.

Hi:
According to charles daughtrey's book, "looking thr Lincoln Cents" - which by the way in my opinion has the best chapter on lincoln cent grading says: "95% red = red, 5% red or less = bron - everything inbetween is RB.
Thanks
Roger

Who is right? Charles Daughtrey or his book?

[BadThad]

They have it as Brown
http://www.lincolncentresource.net/f...p?do=ad&id=139

That coin is so weak on the beard, cheek and above the ear I would have never guessed it for MS.....until I saw the reverse.