Im just wondering why wheat cents.....

[Stormtrooper154]

I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

I'm just wondering why wheat cents change different colors when they are in the ground. I knew because of the exposure to the soil conditions but check this out....

99% of the 1909 - 30's come out of the ground with a nice green patina.

99% of the 1940's - 58 come out of the ground a real nasty red (AKA Clad Red)

Did they use a different composition in the metals in the early wheaties? I have only found one 40's wheatie that was green, and it was from 1940 (around the boarder/timeline of change) All IH's pulled have a nice green patina to them.

 

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[leddel]

Re: I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

1909-1942 pennies were bronze .950 copper and .050 tin 1943 were zinc coated steel penny 1944-1946 were.950 copper and .050 zinc and then 1947- 1958 were back to bronze again ... bronze really holds up better in the soil , hope that helps

 

[Farmercal]

Re: I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

Interesting question considering that in the years mentioned the pennies were made from the exact same materials 95% copper and 5% tin. Now if you were talking about an Indian Head penny made between 1859 to 1864 they were made of 88% copper and 12% nickel, which might have given them a different color due to composition. As far as I know from 1909 until 1982 the composition stayed the same. Anyone else?

Cal

Update:

Found this online just a minute ago

Penny Composition

1864 to 1942 95.0% Copper and 5.0% Zinc & Tin (bronze mix)
1943 Steel with Zinc coating
1944 to 1946 95.0% Copper and 5.0% Zinc & Tin (bronze mix)
but made from cartridge casings and slightly off color
1947-1962 95.0% Copper and 5.0% Zinc & Tin (bronze mix)
1963-1982 95.0% Cu and 5.0% Zinc
1983-2002 97.5% Zinc and 2.5% Copper (20% lighter)

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Re: I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

http://www.pennies.org/history/intro.html


Soil chemicals and minerals have a lot to do with it. High nitrogen or sulphur will make acids that attack the copper, and REALLY attack the zinc. IMHO changes in fertilizer usage also is a factor. I find cents corroded and/or discolored near ballfields but in great shape though dark in some private lawns and homesites.

 

[Stormtrooper154]

Re: I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

I thought it was just strange is all.  I have found wheaties in the same area that have come out of the ground both green and red in color.  I was at a church the other day and I pulled a red wheatie and then about 10 feet later I dug a green one.  Here where I am digging, I know its older when it is green.

 

[SC_hunter]

Re: I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

And I thought I had penny eating worms..lol

 

[Mirage]

Re: I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

I thought it was just strange is all. I have found wheaties in the same area that have come out of the ground both green and red in color. I was at a church the other day and I pulled a red wheatie and then about 10 feet later I dug a green one. Here where I am digging, I know its older when it is green.

Same thing here in Ohio. If it's "red" it's not going to be prior to 1942.

 

[Mirage]

Re: I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

Right, wheats from 1909 to 1942 had a different composition than those from that date on. This change in composition accounts for the difference that you notice in the condition of the dug wheats (condition/appearance of the older ones vs. the newer ones). And actually, the information that I have from the Redbook is different than what Farmercal found. It says there was no tin in the post 1942 wheats. But yea, I notice that trend of appearance in my wheats also.

Nice 1917 wheat, by the way. HH!

 

[Nate in Ohio]

Re: I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

Oops, that was me, Mirage needed me to log in under his account for something.

 

[cosmic]

Re: I'm just wondering why wheat cents.....

And I thought I had penny eating worms..lol

LMAO!!!! Must have a herd of them around here!!!!!