Collectors often judge penny value by the date or mint mark. This is right but the metal also influences the coin's real cost. There are three designations to describe color: Red (RD), Red-Brown (RB), and Brown (BN). They mean how much of the original red tone remains on a copper coin.
So, here we would like to check what these color grades mean, how they form, how they affect prices, and how collectors can preserve them over time.
Understanding Penny Color Grades
Copper reacts naturally with air and moisture. Over decades, it darkens and loses its red tone. Grading systems classify this process using three categories:
Red (RD)
Means at least 95% of the original bright copper color remains. It shows minimal oxidation and full mint luster. Examples are modern Lincoln cents stored in airtight holders since minting. A 1958-D MS67RD, for instance, reached about $2,880 at Heritage Auctions — a price possible only for true RD coins.
Red-Brown (RB)
Indicates between 5% and 95% of the red surface remains. The rest has turned brown due to oxidation. Many older cents fall into this middle range. A 1909-S VDB MS65RB usually brings $2,500 — less than the RD version but significantly more than BN.
Brown (BN)
Describes coins with less than 5% original red. Their surfaces are fully toned or darkened. They are stable and attractive but less valuable. A 1914-D MS63BN sells for about $1,000, while the same grade in RD can exceed $3,000.
Collectors use these categories to compare not just beauty but preservation. The redder the coin, the closer it remains to its original mint state.
How Color Affects Penny Value
Color alone can double or triple a coin’s price. It reflects both rarity and care. Fewer old copper coins survive with their original red hue, making RD examples the most desirable.
Coin | Grade | Brown (BN) | Red-Brown (RB) | Red (RD) |
1909-S VDB | MS65 | $1,600 | $2,500 | $4,000 |
1956 Lincoln Cent | MS65 | $12 | $18 | $35 |
1940 Lincoln Cent | MS66 | $22 | $38 | $70 |
These price ranges come from recent PCGS data and major auction results. The pattern is clear: RD coins command the highest premiums, followed by RB, then BN.
Still, bright red is not always the smartest purchase. RD coins are sensitive to humidity and may lose color even in storage. A well-preserved RB coin often holds its tone longer and keeps a steady market value.
Why Color Changes Over Time
Copper changes because it reacts easily with the environment. The thin red layer that gives a coin its shine oxidizes when exposed to air. Over time, it turns darker as oxygen and moisture create copper oxide and sulfide layers.
Common causes of color loss include:
Storage in humid rooms (over 60 % humidity)
Touching the surface with bare hands
Rapid temperature shifts
Contact with reactive metals such as nickel or silver
Once the red color fades, it cannot be restored without damaging the surface. Cleaning, polishing, or chemical treatment removes metal layers and ruins numismatic value. A 1955 Doubled Die Cent, once cleaned, can drop from thousands of dollars to significantly lower amounts.
Color change is natural, but it can be slowed by controlling storage conditions. Well-sealed RD coins from the 1960s still exist because they were stored properly since issue. That makes them rare and desirable today.
How Professionals Grade Color
Professional graders such as PCGS and NGC use consistent lighting and magnification to determine color designations. Each coin is examined under neutral white light (around 5500 K) to see how much of the original red tone remains.
The label includes both the numeric grade and color code, such as MS66RB PCGS. This information becomes part of the permanent certification record.
Collectors can verify this data using the coin’s serial number on PCGS or NGC websites. A coin graded decades ago may now look darker; if re-submitted, it could receive a different color category. Natural tone changes are acceptable, but altered color from cleaning or heat treatment leads to a note of “Artificial Color” and lowers its value.
Grading services rarely disagree on true RD coins, but borderline cases (around 70–80 % red) may differ between RB and RD depending on the lighting and the surface.
RD vs RB: Which Offers Better Long-Term Value
Investors often choose RD coins for higher returns, while collectors prefer RB coins for stability. RD coins are rarer and more valuable but can lose color and fade to RB with time or moisture.
Example: a 1959 Lincoln MS66RD sells for about $70, and MS66RB for around $40. When an RD coin darkens, its value drops to RB range.
Collectors prefer RB because it:
Keeps some original red color at lower cost
Ages slowly and evenly
Stays stable under normal storage
RD fits short-term resale and top registry goals. RB fits long-term, steady collections.
Detecting Artificial Color
Some coins are treated to mimic red surfaces. Sellers may use chemicals, heat, or wax coatings to fake original luster and hue. Such coins often appear unnaturally bright or uniform.
Warning signs include:
Glossy surfaces without metal texture
Perfectly even tone from center to rim
Residue or haze near lettering
Color shift under different lighting angles
Professional graders quickly identify these manipulations. For instance, a 1920 Lincoln Cent once labeled “red re-toned” was downgraded and marked “Altered Color.” Artificially bright coins rarely pass certification and lose most of their resale value.
Collectors should compare any suspicious coin with certified examples on PCGS Photograde or Heritage Auctions. It is safer to pay slightly more for a certified coin than risk buying a raw one. Artificial coloring permanently changes the surface and may cause further corrosion later.
Preserving Penny Color
Maintaining original color requires controlling air, humidity, and temperature. The following steps help preserve copper tone for decades:
Use insert holders.
Capsules made from Mylar or acrylic protect coins without chemical reaction. Avoid PVC flips — they release acids that darken copper.
Keep air dry.
Store coins with silica gel or in climate-controlled environments between 18 and 22 °C.
Avoid metal contact.
Keep copper separate from silver or nickel to prevent galvanic reactions.
Handle only by edges.
Use cotton gloves to prevent skin oils from accelerating oxidation.
Limit light exposure.
Continuous UV light causes uneven toning and color loss.
Proper storage ensures that RD coins stay red. Collections kept in Airtite capsules with desiccants have retained full brightness for over 30 years.
Monitoring color is also important. Photograph coins every few years and note changes. If toning progresses evenly, it can be attractive and stable. Rapid darkening may indicate poor sealing or moisture intrusion.
Collector Advice: Color as an Investment Factor
Color adds another layer to market analysis. For new collectors, understanding hue differences between RD, RB, and BN prevents costly mistakes. For investors, it defines premium potential.
Tips for practical use:
Focus on certified coins.
For modern copper coins, seek full RD and store them immediately in sealed holders.
For older cents, RB often provides better long-term balance between price and appearance.
Record purchase date, grade, and visible color description for each coin.
Modern technology helps collectors document and manage their sets. The Coin ID Scanner app allows quick identification by photo, shows minting features, and helps manage coins digitally. It does not grade color, but it is useful for noting RD, RB, or BN categories and monitoring value changes over time.
Color Defines Preservation and Worth
Color defines a penny’s condition and market worth. RD means preserved mint luster, RB marks partial aging, BN shows full tone change. Understanding these grades helps set fair prices and avoid mistakes. And remember that proper storage and regular checks keep both the color and value of the pieces.