Artificial Color

[4ucoin-migration]

I submitted a large cent to NGC. Got bodybag indicating saying it was artificially colored. I bought this coin in a major auction where the decription didn't say anything about artificial color.

 

How can you tell if a coin has artificial color?

 

Can anything be done to remove artificial color?

[CHRISS]

Since copper is the most reactive of the major coinage metals, it can easily be ill-effected by chemical "enhancements" and other environmental concerns. The result when these "enhancements" go wrong is often what will be called "artificial color."

 

Artificial color can range from the bright pink of a copper coin that has been treated with an acid dip to more subtle forms that can cause a coin to be off in color. Generally copper coins will be a bright reddish orange and tone gradually to a chocolate brown through normal environmental toning. Certain shades of deep red, orange, or deep purple may still be acceptable since these can occur through normal toning. Yellow or pink is generally a color that a copper coin would not tone due to normal environmental concerns. Also, copper coins will often turn one of the offending colors when improperly cleaned so many artificially toned copper coins could also be called improperly cleaned.

 

The best answer as to how to identify an artificially colored copper coin is experience. Carefully look at the surface and color of several copper coins and compare particularly those in regular NGC holders with those that are not graded but should be because of their relative rarity or value. Take a look at the copper cent coins in your pocket change and you will probably see a range of what color copper coins will tone in normal circumstances.

 

Chris, NCS