Coins and Canada - Copper coins - Brown, Red and Brown, Red - The differences

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Copper coins - Brown, Red and Brown, Red - The differences

By thecanadiannumismatist | Saturday, 13 April 2024

Copper coins collectors often spend more when a piece shows Red surfaces. In most cases, Red coins are rarer than Red and Brown and Brown variant and are found in higher grades.

Moisture, bad storage and changes in temperatures are the main reasons why a Red copper coin progressively turns Brown.

There are disparities in color designations between the different certification companies and Canadian ones use more terms, but the average definitions are:

Brown (BN)

A coin is considered Brown when the surface is:

PCGS: 5% Red or less
CCCS: Toned
ICCS: Not specified
NGC: 15% Red or less

Most of these coins are graded MS-60 and below (with exceptions).

Lustrous Brown

A coin is considered Lustrous Brown when the surface is:

PCGS: Not used
CCCS: Toning over luster
ICCS: Not specified
NGC: Not used

Most of these coins are graded between MS-60 to MS-62 (with exceptions).

Trace Red

A coin is considered Lustrous Brown when the surface is:

PCGS: Not used
CCCS: 10% to 50% Red
ICCS: Not specified
NGC: Not used

Most of these coins are graded between MS-60 to MS-63 (with exceptions).

Red and Brown (RB)

A coin is considered Red and Brown when the surface is:

PCGS: 5% to 95% Red
CCCS: 50% to 90% Red
ICCS: Not specified
NGC: 15% to 85% Red

Most of these coins are graded between MS-61 and MS-64 (with exceptions).

Red (RD)

A coin is considered Red when the surface is 95% to 100% Red.

PCGS: 95% Red or more
CCCS: 90% to 100% Red
ICCS: Not specified
NGC: 85% Red or more

Most of these coins are graded above MS-63 (with exceptions).

A coin's change from red to red brown to brown is a permanent process that cannot be reversed.

Certain amateur restorers attempt to alter a coin's color, but professionals consider these attempts to be detrimental and coins with altered color are ineligible for numeric grading.

- NGC

Here are some examples of differences in prices according to the colour/luster remaining:

1 cent 1876 MS-64

Red and Brown: $280
Red: $455

1 cent 1881 MS-62

Trade Red: $170
Red and Brown: $220

1 cent 1924 MS-63

Red and Brown: $565
Red: $1,140

There is no doubt that Red coins will always be the most desired and command the highest premiums among copper coins. However, there are a lot of Red Brown and Brown coins in the market that just missed the next-higher color designation which can be purchased at fractions of what completely Red coins will cost and these are just a few of the hidden values in today's market.