can someone explain the colouration of this penny?

[scott 144]

1903 penny EF? grade... thought it was polished but as you can see, the wear to the raised parts shows the normal colour underneath, had this coin for many years and i like the detail.

[Peckris 579]

1903 penny EF? grade... thought it was polished but as you can see, the wear to the raised parts shows the normal colour underneath, had this coin for many years and i like the detail.

From the colour I can see on my monitor, it looks as if it was gilded one time. Perhaps someone tested it out on a penny before turning to farthings? Otherwsie it's not easy to say - there could be any number of atmospheric or storage causes as to discolouration. But as you say, the detail is nice.

[scott 144]

hmm, i know that lustre can fade but keep the colour cant it? because i have seen yellow lustre before on coins of the period, only thing i can think of as well as additions, what grade is it EF?

[Peckris 579]

hmm, i know that lustre can fade but keep the colour cant it? because i have seen yellow lustre before on coins of the period, only thing i can think of as well as additions, what grade is it EF?

Judged only on wear, I would say EF, yes.

[VickySilver 836]

Well responders including me will beg off and say they need to see the coin in hand, but I think that the curiosities of toning include phenomena related to the metal alloy itself (which at least to me appear to be "woodgraining" which is thought to be incomplete mixing of the metals) and the environment in which the coin was in. If the coin initially oxidized in one environment and then was moved and suffered surface friction it could appear as such.

Many people think that pennies are copper and therefore red but the alloy is a mix and referred to as bronze by many which may have variably yellow colour in appearance as well.