Long-Term Collecting

1887 Indian Head cent with advanced verdigris. A perfect example of how copper reacts to decades of moisture and air exposure.
| |

Zinc Rot vs. Verdigris: How to Tell the Difference on Modern Pennies

Zinc rot and verdigris might look similar, but they tell two very different stories. Verdigris can often be stabilized or left alone. Zinc rot means the coin’s dying from the inside out. Learning the difference keeps you from wasting time trying to save what’s already gone.