1948 Washington Quarter Mint Error - Struck Through Retained Metal

I echo your concerns, tropicalbats. The extra metal (if metal it is) appears to stand above the adjacent normal field and design. That would indicate it was added to the coin after it left the mint.

If this had been struck-in or rolled-in metal, then you would see a shallow depression where some of the metal has lifted up or been lost. Here, there is no such depression, indicating the metal was deposited after the coin left the Mint. It could have been carefully rubbed so as to conform to the underlying design, or its time spent in circulation could have accomplished the same thing.

So I think we can put this one to bed. I'm calling it PMD of a deliberate nature. First, there is what was noted already that there is a step between the field and the extra metal (yes it is metal). That should be flat.

Next I looked at the die scratches mentioned by Stoneman. Sadly, those are surface scratches. The coin is BU and has no scratches elsewhere except on and near this part. Seems that after it was applied some smoothing work was done and it put these light scratches on there.

Then there is the idea of die detail in general being visible on the surface of the added metal. It is not. It is a late stage die with a lot of flow lines and none of that shows up on the metal surface, which is overall uniform. But looking closely at the A of STATES you can see where the metal covers the die flow at the bottom. Sorry but the lighting on this image makes things look reversed, but stare at it long enough and the devices will look raised.




And finally, where there are gaps or rips in the metal it appears there is a bit of glue visible. I can't prove that, but that's what it looks like.





I think that is plenty of evidence to suggest malicious alteration to the coin to create a fake error coin. I fell for it based on an ebay image, but the "error" was not noted in the listing and I have every reason to believe the seller was not trying to pass this off intentionally. Just another bad one that will be pulled and added to my counterfeit collection.

Thanks again for all the comments and help with this one.

I'm glad I could assist you in reaching the correct, if disappointing, conclusion. Still, it did provide a useful object lesson.

I also collect counterfeits and clever alterations. So, I know where you're coming from.

I am glad for other addition of your collection. When I say the inferior part of the coin, look at the cracks. Between the R a A in Dollard it is a split Die Crack which seem like manny will assume it is an Pre-Cud, but in fact it is an very old Die. Also look at the nice exemple of the DDD. I am glad for your new addition.