1997 P 25c Improperly Annealed Planchet

I'm on the fence on this one. Maybe you should contact Mike Diamond, to get his input on this.

I was getting ready to say this, but you got it covered!

This seem to be an 80/20 Cu alloy. In 1998 the Mint start different studies for alternative metals for the coins. This 80/20 Cu alloy it is one of them for the quarters. In 2000 they presented to the Congress the first studie, asking the permission. Then in 2014 the final report to the congress with very detailed results for different alloys and different kind of Dies. The tests all this period was performed in US, Canada Mint, UK Mint and Germany Mint.

Looking at the results of the XRF, the missing of the Zn, residues of Au and AG, the color of the side of the coins speak more about one of the testing alloy coins struck. They struck hundreds of thousand because the study cover the striking defaults, the durability of the Die and carasterics of the Dies resistences and cracking points, also the forces must apply by the presses and the maximum of the frequences per minute can be achieve.

The documents in question here Mike or TB can confirm and or analize the coin. Please no request to send those documents please.

@ Jbuck: In general they struck around 1 mill coins for each metal in US. IMHO was test in West Point. Was 5 different kind of Dies. Those coins after strike gone to QA Department the after analyse is suppose to be photo and then distroy. Do some escape in the pocket of different personnel?!!!!. Or the samples for congress took the wild?!!!! Hard to say and must be confirmed.

Me I say what I see after the XRF. Bullion guys has XRF which will tell you if the sample it is plated (cladded) or not. In this case no and their XRF is 2 cm potrussion of material (sample).

To be follow.

This is interesting. First look just seems like a plated or environmental issue quarter. The surface appearing to show normal cladding on the reverse high points would seem to back this up. But on the other hand, Silvio is correct, the mint spent a lot of time playing with 80/20 planchets and struck large numbers of sample coins in that alloy. But I didn't think that happened in 1997. There was an early run, the date of which eludes me, but I believe most of this work was done after 2010. Also, if I remember correctly, they had to add something like 3% manganese to get the electromagnetic signature right.

Anyway, it's worth continuing to study this one, as there is a legitimate option out there with the 80/20 planchet.

First I thanks to TROP to intervine.

@ COIN:

I see two different questions:

1.


When TB told, him say from the last report. In 2000 the Mint announce the Congress to change the alloy and present preliminary studies.

Now how it work. The Mint look for 5,6 years ahead, so they start studies. In 1999 the Design of the Quarters change and they do the expectection of the Reserve. Also in 2000 all the presses go from Vertical to Horisontal strike. Do could be an innocent to think that they change those with out studies? No.

Same it is with the report of 2000. the probablly start the studies far behind, I presume somewhere in 1995-1996. Any studies took time and lot of efforts. So my answer to you question will be after your second question.

2.


NO. The XRF will see the alloy composition. In order to see annealing spectrum will complete other technology and also it is no database for. Annealing spectrum enter the color of alloy (metal). The only place could be study it is the mint, and they never will loose the time with this for simple fact that differential it is just an event, as crack die, chip die or age die.

after annealing the planchet could be influences by to manny factors to change the color. So this it is no important for the Mint. Was to cold, or too warm the flow of the air or the band is nothing. After annealing important are the physical proprieties of planchet in order to be struck.

Conclusion: The XRF show the metalic composants, mean what your coin it is and do not analise color spectrum. Some case will show the oxides if are in quantity. The XRF will analyse trough 75% of the sample and we can not see but is go circular concentric.

In my oppinion you post my first metalic experimental planchet I saw. I saw on facility but not in the wild.

I took my medication in time and answer also so Good Night.

Yes it is unusual because is 80/20 on total and the missing of the zinc which normal it is in the core alloy, The normal reading of an quarter must be on or maybe here the core been extracted from gold alloy has those residues of Silver and gold.

the XRF in the case of the quarters will pop-up the mention plated (cladded) and your xrf show just the metals with no mention of plated. Hope help better.

If was an normal strike clad the Xrf must show 8.33% nickel, 91.67% copper (from Mint specs) The clad it is 1/3 of the coin weight.