1901 Farthing Question

[Generic Lad]

Ok, so I was looking at a bunch of Victorian bronze I got a month or so ago and I noticed this farthing, my question is if this was not mint darkened or if it was cleaned (or if I just can't tell what mint darkening looks like ) or otherwise has condition issues

I'm also not sure what the big black streak is

On the top is a circulated 1896 farthing

[Peckris]

Ok, so I was looking at a bunch of Victorian bronze I got a month or so ago and I noticed this farthing, my question is if this was not mint darkened or if it was cleaned (or if I just can't tell what mint darkening looks like ) or otherwise has condition issues

I'm also not sure what the big black streak is

On the top is a circulated 1896 farthing

It certainly looks as if it was cleaned in the past (the black streak could be a result of uneven cleaning). However, don't check against your 1896 farthing for mint darkening, as that didn't start until 1897; all 1896 farthings were bright. Bronze coins often go dark when they have started to wear - mint toning is most evident on UNC coins, and has a kind of dark blue/purple sheen.

[Colin G.]

Ok, so I was looking at a bunch of Victorian bronze I got a month or so ago and I noticed this farthing, my question is if this was not mint darkened or if it was cleaned (or if I just can't tell what mint darkening looks like ) or otherwise has condition issues

I'm also not sure what the big black streak is

On the top is a circulated 1896 farthing

It certainly looks as if it was cleaned in the past (the black streak could be a result of uneven cleaning). However, don't check against your 1896 farthing for mint darkening, as that didn't start until 1897; all 1896 farthings were bright. Bronze coins often go dark when they have started to wear - mint toning is most evident on UNC coins, and has a kind of dark blue/purple sheen.

I agree that it looks cleaned rather than a coin that has escaped the artificial darkening process