whats going on with this 1937 penny

[scott 144]

dark colouration is confusing

[josie 8]

Ive seen some of GB coin like that also in Ireland predecimal brozed.

[Peckris 579]

Yes, that's quite a common toning of George VI bronze, especially in the early years of the reign. It does look on first glance as if it was 'Mint toned', but it's too green for that. Mint toning is invariably a kind of purple/brown colour and quite distinctive (and when it wears off, it reveals the different alloy underneath, which always makes the mid-1940s bronze look a pinkish colour).

[josie 8]

Thanks for the info peckris.

I thought that dust and dirt settled in the coin and latter result is the coin is somewhat blackened.

Yes peckris you are right once that toned or layer is removed the bare metal pinkish color will appear.

[scott 144]

i acctually like it like that, brings out the raised areas more

[josie 8]

I also thought it was something else.

Like all other old coin blackened silver and brozed.

[Peckris 579]

i acctually like it like that, brings out the raised areas more

Yes, it's a handsome tone.

[josie 8]

Thanks for all the info

Its a tone.

[scott 144]

got this one

looks like burn damage but...

[josie 8]

Nice collection.

Others are much darker in color maybe those date that are near to hypo dated coin.

[Peckris 579]

Nice collection.

Others are much darker in color maybe those date that are near to hypo dated coin.

Those were 1944, '45 , '46 (though some 1946s were lustred). The interesting thing is, when the hypo coins wear, they go a lighter shade of brown than other dates - I think it was because they had the tin content reduced because of shortages.

[josie 8]

Thanks for the info.

I will remember that.

[scott 144]

so whats my 47 all about :/

[Peckris 579]

so whats my 47 all about :/

Could indeed have been burned, but bear in mind that darkened-looking-but-worn pennies are actually by no means uncommon. Who knows where they've been in their lifetimes (that 47 is now a venerable 62 years old...).