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Posted By: davidcycleback

The T205 borders were gilded, meaning they are covered in metal dust. Gold wasn't used, but some cheaper gold-colored metal. This metal often tarnished over time, including into a dark copper color and sometimes with a greenish tint. So variations in color are usually caused to variations in aging/tarnishing. How they were stored likely effected the appearance. The Stature of Liberty has a lot of copper in it, which is why it turns green.

T205s without any gilding, like with scraps, will have light yellow borders.

If you have an antique card, cabinet photo or collectible where the gilding is gold-colored and bright and shiny as new, it's probably real gold. A common property of gold is that it doesn't tarnish. They used gold on some 1800s Allen & Ginter non-sports cards and, I believe, the N173 Cabinets. I'm not aware of anyone using gold on trading cards in the 1900s-- excepting those Highland Mint-type cards.

The word gild, or guild, literally translates to gold. However, over the years other metals have been used, including silver and copper.