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Re: copper quarter

Posted by JeffK on August 19, 2010 at 19:54:29:

In Reply to: copper quarter posted by TOM HUDSON on August 18, 2010 at 10:22:06:

The fact that it's thinner than a regular quarter makes me suspect it's a lamination error. In the case of clad coins like post-1965 dimes, quarters, and halves it means one (or rarely) both cupronickel outer layers is missing and the coin's copper core is visible.

Lamination errors can happen in at least 3 ways:

> The outer layer didn't bond solidly to the core and came off, either before or after the coin was struck.

> The planchet was punched from the end of an incomplete roll of clad stock, where the outer cladding didn't extend over the core.

> The bond was weak and someone with tools and too much spare time managed to work off the outer layer.

I'm sure there's more, but after a long work day I'm kinda mushy and can't think of them :=)

Anyway, a clad quarter with a true lamination error (i.e. that occurred at the Mint) might go for $8 to $10, but you'd need to have it examined in person to evaluate what really happened to it.

:
: Jeff, I'm not sure if my first post went through, so here I go again (I got a message saying I did not fill in my name). I have a copper quarter (1980) that is less than half the thickness of a regular quarter. It is slightly bent because a lady was trying to put it in a vending machine. I'm in Mississippi. Any ideas to confirm what it is? Thanks, Tom

Follow Ups:

• Re: copper quarter TOM HUDSON 17:48:25 08/20/10 (1)
  • Re: copper quarter JeffK 21:37:11 08/21/10 (0)

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Comments:
: The fact that it's thinner than a regular quarter makes me suspect it's a lamination error. In the case of clad coins like post-1965 dimes, quarters, and halves it means one (or rarely) both cupronickel outer layers is missing and the coin's copper core is visible. 

: Lamination errors can happen in at least 3 ways:

: > The outer layer didn't bond solidly to the core and came off, either before or after the coin was struck.

: > The planchet was punched from the end of an incomplete roll of clad stock, where the outer cladding didn't extend over the core.

: > The bond was weak and someone with tools and too much spare time managed to work off the outer layer.

: I'm sure there's more, but after a long work day I'm kinda mushy and can't think of them :=)

: Anyway, a clad quarter with a true lamination error (i.e. that occurred at the Mint) might go for $8 to $10, but you'd need to have it examined in person to evaluate what really happened to it.

: : 
: : Jeff, I'm not sure if my first post went through, so here I go again (I got a message saying I did not fill in my name). I have a copper quarter (1980) that is less than half the thickness of a regular quarter. It is slightly bent because a lady was trying to put it in a vending machine. I'm in Mississippi. Any ideas to confirm what it is? Thanks, Tom



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