New Mexico Error Quarter

The Zia sun symbol isn't a counterstamp, it's actually part of the design for this particular State Quarter.

It would be if it weren't incuse. It's only incuse on the actual coin in outline; what's incuse in this coin was field-level on the original. This was deliberate.

OK, so can we get off my unfortunate choice of one single word to decide what it is?

We can start with it's certainly a New Mexico Quarter. The proportions and position measure correctly. But somebody had to create that look to the sun glyph deliberately.

Unless, of course, on the real coin - I don't have one handy - the whole center of the glyph is incuse and it's just finished in two different styles at depth. If someone can inform me that's the case, we can probably conclude it was pretty thoroughly heated, maybe sitting on top of a pipe or something to explain the ring on the obverse. Can't be acid; the features would all remain, just lower on the coin.

There is entirely too much jumping to quick decisions around here. Some of you get that, and are looking at everything even if the cause seems obvious. Those of you doing that are getting credit for discoveries.

If it takes me being publicly wrong once a day to make you take fresh looks at every single coin posted, most especially the ones which are obvious to you, well, I'll be wrong.

There is a method to my wrongness. I'm making you think.

@DaSlayer - THAT we all agree on.

@SsuperDdave - Looking at a NM quarter now under magnification... the glyph is indeed incuse.

As in, the interior of the glyph, the part in field finish, is incuse and below field level? If that be the case, then, I will be completely wrong here and all we have to do is determine the mechanism of the damage.

I got someone to study. That's worth the damage to my reputation.

Part of my problem is always wanting to see the spiritual aspect of things, and for some that symbol is the foundation of their spirituality. It may well be that they feel it desecration to put it on a coin.

There was never any doubt whatsoever that it's PMD. It's so obvious as to go without saying, except most of the posters said it anyway just in case. The only argument has been how deliberate it was.

Imagine how I feel.

This one's been fun.