Dirty Penny™ Preweathered Copper Patina

Dirty Penny copper is a premium surface developed by Zahner to provide artists and architects with a stunning architectural surface unlike any other. The preweathered copper features light and dark tones ranging from blues to greens and reds.

An iridescent surface, the material benefits from a microfilm which develops on the exterior layer of the material. The oxidized layer is like a living protecting barrier which grows and evolves as it further oxidizes.

An ImageWall feature wall, built with Zahner's Dirty Penny™ copper, makes a bold statement in the lobby of AECOM's Cleveland office.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AECOM BUILDINGS AND PLACES

Detail of the embossed Dirty Penny surface

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

As part of the Zahner sustainability mission, each of the patinated metal products produced by Zahner are developed in the company’s EPA certified facility in Grand Prairie, Texas. The award-winning facility follows environmental practices in producing sustainable copper, zinc and steel surfaces with custom patination, ensuring that the community water supply isn’t damaged by the use of improper waste disposal.

Perforated screen walls featuring Dirty Penny Copper at Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, California.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Dirty Penny Changes Over Time

Patinated metals are distinct in their transformative nature. While immutable materials like stainless steel or passivated aluminum may stand up to weather without change, transformative metal systems are designed to change.

Dirty Penny is a patina on copper, a transformative material. If exposed to exterior elements, the material will continue to weather, darkening over time. Within twenty years, it will begin to turn green. This transformation provides the material with a protective coating. This natural process of weathering and longevity is part of what makes the material so desirable.

If sealed and maintained, it is possible for a custom copper patina such as Dirty Penny to maintain its iridescent luster. As an interior surface, the Dirty Penny copper’s unique finish can last indefinitely, especially if the material is sealed.

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Product Details & Specifications

Interested in Dirty Penny™ Preweathered Copper Patina? Get the information you need, from product details, specifications, Rhino files, samples, to sheet good quotes — or contact our sales team to discuss using Dirty Penny for your project.

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Learn More About Dirty Penny and How it Compares to Other Copper Finishes

Read our educational series on the history, manufacturing, and application of stainless steels and Zahner Dirty Penny:

Part 1

Copper and its Alloys: The Dawn of a New Age and Modern Metal Marvels

Copper was no ordinary rock—it would not fracture yet yielded to blows and took a different shape.

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Part 2

The Finishes, Patinas, and Textures of Copper and Copper Alloys

The thermodynamic character of copper offers a stability that welcomes the arrival of new elements.

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Part 3

Dirty Penny™: Zahner’s Premium Copper Patina Surface With Iridescent Appeal

A striking preweathered copper patina, with light and dark tones ranging from blues to greens to purples and reds.

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The Ultimate Copper Surfaces Guide

Copper, Brass, and Bronze Surfaces: A Guide to Alloys, Finishes, Fabrication, and Maintenance in Architecture and Art (Architectural Metals Series)

By L. William Zahner

Copper, Brass, and Bronze Surfaces, third in Zahner’s Architectural Metals Series, provides a comprehensive and authoritative treatment of copper, brass, and bronze applications in architecture and art. It offers architecture and design professionals the information they need to ensure proper maintenance and fabrication techniques through detailed information and full-color images.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COPPER, BRASS, AND BRONZE SURFACES