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Posted By: davidcycleback

The T205 metal has usually tarnished over the years, and in differing degrees and ways. So there will be legitimate variations in color and tone (darkness). As with the famously green Statue of Liberty, the T205 metal can have a bit of green to it. You'll also find old pennies that have turned green, and both the Statue of Liberty and pennies are made with copper.

If you find an original antique card or cabinet card with gold-colored metal that has remained as bright and shinny as new, it's probably genuine gold. People have long been enamored with gold in part because it tends not to tarnish. Some 1800s cabinet card mounts used real gold, and I believe one of the non-sport 1880s Allen & Ginter has gold touches.