Many strike rims age with a copper look. In good lighting, natural sunlight is best, examine the edge of the strike. A copper rim retains a brass look to the edge. Two toned if you will. An aged brass rim tones on the edge as well as the flat surface. Lighting is the key. I examined a number of the Hard Rock S mint $10 strikes. They age to a beautiful copper color. As Norm states polishing them returns them to a brass finish and the edge examination reveals the toned edge. Bear in mind strikes tone in the case above the machines. This has fooled many. The Orleans comes to mind.

Art Becker has done the most in depth research into the copper rim debacle. His 2004 catalogues contain valuable information.

http://home.earthlink.net/~abecker973/silver.html

Tom