Purple cent

[koinmon]

I was searching rolls today and located a zinc cent; has a purple tint front and back. Also shows some copper coating. Any one have an idea if this is a very thin copper coat letting the ZINC show through?
koinmon

[Steven]

May be a chemical or environmental toning????? Here is a brightly colored 1960D I found. If you can show some photos maybe we can get a better idea of yours.

[koinmon]

thank you.... if it were zinc showing throubh what color would it be?
koinmon

[mustbebob]

Zinc is silver colored. It turns to a whitish powder when it begins to oxidize.

[koinmon]

thank you...back into the junk pile it goes.
koinmon

[DWK]

thank you...back into the junk pile it goes.
koinmon

It only costs a penny to keep it. I have a whole cup full of odd colored cents. Some, I know would be called brass and are collectible. Some people do collect "toned" coins. You never know who might want it if its in nice cond wear wise.

Dave Kearns

[snowman]

this is usually an enviromental thing - on some of pennies from roll searching are given a nice rub with a clean cloth which brings out some nice tones

give it a try - find some pennies that look boring and dull - not too red and not to brown and give them a rub. i use my thumb and index finger with the coin between the cloth. its amazing on what colors are beneath the grime and fingerprints

i should do a before and after pics. (coin rubbing 101)

Snowman

[koinmon]

thanks to all............ i'll put it with the other thousand odd cents.
thanks again.
koinmon