why are large cents often corroded?

It seems that a lot of graded large cents have lower grades then their
detail would normally allow for (eg. VF Details Net VG 8, or
something) because of corrosion. My question is... why? Why are so
many large cents corroded? Does something about the planchet just
lend itself to corrosion?

On Nov 18, 11:36 pm, yawnmoth wrote:
It seems that a lot of graded large cents have lower grades then their
detail would normally allow for (eg. VF Details Net VG 8, or
something) because of corrosion. My question is... why? Why are so
many large cents corroded? Does something about the planchet just
lend itself to corrosion?

Perhaps due to their content which is unalloyed copper.

The fact that they are over 150 yrs old might have something to do with it
as well.

"RF" wrote in message
...
On Nov 18, 11:36 pm, yawnmoth wrote:
It seems that a lot of graded large cents have lower grades then their
detail would normally allow for (eg. VF Details Net VG 8, or
something) because of corrosion. My question is... why? Why are so
many large cents corroded? Does something about the planchet just
lend itself to corrosion?

Perhaps due to their content which is unalloyed copper.

"yawnmoth" wrote in message
...
It seems that a lot of graded large cents have lower grades then their
detail would normally allow for (eg. VF Details Net VG 8, or
something) because of corrosion. My question is... why? Why are so
many large cents corroded? Does something about the planchet just
lend itself to corrosion?

There actually are lots and lots of nice copper pieces, but most of them
have been in the strong hands of collectors for 150 years or more, and
you're not going to see them for sale in the usual venues. Go to a big
show, though, and seek out dealers such as Tom Reynolds or Chris McCawley,
and you'll see them. Get connected to the big auction houses that handle
the sales of name collections, and you'll see them. The stuff you normally
see at smaller shows and on eBay represents the harder-to-place coins,
generally speaking. These include the coins that have been dug up by metal
detectionists (is that the right word?). As time goes on, and more and more
new copper collectors enter the competition for the fixed supply, they
normally have to settle for coins of lower and lower quality, as the better
material just isn't out there anymore. Coins that used to be treated with
disdain by collectors 100 years ago are now often the best one can find.

As others have observed, it is the high reactivity of the pure copper that
makes them so susceptible to corrosion. Contemporary accounts indicate that
people tended to avoid them because they fouled so quickly.

I'm not sure what you mean by "graded" large cents, but there is a practice
called EAC (Early American Coppers, Inc.) grading that would warrant a
separate posting, if you are interested in reading more.

James

I suspect that they don't corrode any more that any other similar coin but
as they have collector value even in a corroded state the impression can be
that they do corrode more.

Coins that are undesirable in a corroded state are not seen offered for sale
making corroded large cents seem more numerous than other coins. Billy


"yawnmoth" wrote in message
...
It seems that a lot of graded large cents have lower grades then their
detail would normally allow for (eg. VF Details Net VG 8, or
something) because of corrosion. My question is... why? Why are so
many large cents corroded? Does something about the planchet just
lend itself to corrosion?

On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:29:35 GMT, "note.boy"
wrote:

I suspect that they don't corrode any more that any other similar coin but
as they have collector value even in a corroded state the impression can be
that they do corrode more.

Coins that are undesirable in a corroded state are not seen offered for sale
making corroded large cents seem more numerous than other coins. Billy

Another thing that may play into it--I've read that the mint had a
real problem finding decent copper to work with.

take care,
Scott

On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:32:03 GMT, Scott Stevenson wrote:

Another thing that may play into it--I've read that the mint had a
real problem finding decent copper to work with.

Likely to be a major factor, yes. 150 years ago, metallurgy wasn't
anywhere near the science it is today. Even 100 to 60 years ago, the
San Fancisco mint's copper cents had the "woodgrain" effect. Materials
science keeps evolving, so going back 2 centuries or so, we're almost
back to bronze-age methods of refining.

"Scott Stevenson" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:29:35 GMT, "note.boy"
wrote:

I suspect that they don't corrode any more that any other similar coin but
as they have collector value even in a corroded state the impression can
be
that they do corrode more.

Coins that are undesirable in a corroded state are not seen offered for
sale
making corroded large cents seem more numerous than other coins. Billy

Another thing that may play into it--I've read that the mint had a
real problem finding decent copper to work with.

There are many accounts of otherwise decent coinage blanks coming from
England in the briny bilge of ships, getting all black and gross before even
seeing the coining press.

James

P.S. Scott, if you got a personal email from me containing this post, it is
because I hit the wrong button.
'looks like I picked the wrong week to give up sniffing spirit duplicator
fluid'

In article , "Mr. Jaggers" lugburzman[at]yahoo[dot]com wrote:

"Scott Stevenson" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:29:35 GMT, "note.boy"
wrote:

I suspect that they don't corrode any more that any other similar coin but
as they have collector value even in a corroded state the impression can
be
that they do corrode more.

Coins that are undesirable in a corroded state are not seen offered for
sale
making corroded large cents seem more numerous than other coins. Billy

Another thing that may play into it--I've read that the mint had a
real problem finding decent copper to work with.

There are many accounts of otherwise decent coinage blanks coming from
England in the briny bilge of ships, getting all black and gross before even
seeing the coining press.

James

P.S. Scott, if you got a personal email from me containing this post, it is
because I hit the wrong button.
'looks like I picked the wrong week to give up sniffing spirit duplicator
fluid'


love that mimeo smell.

On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:12:19 GMT, in wrote:

love that mimeo smell.

Been decades and still I can smell it. Not sure anyone uses it anymore?