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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,083 |
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
OK here is my question...I hope I am in the right section...I have a bicentennial quarter that measures 5.75 grams...which according to my book "the official Red Book" has some silver in the composition of the coin...The confusing part is that there is no mint mark...according to the book they need to have the "s" mint mark to be silver. any ideas? Thank you |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
536 Posts |
Being a Bicentennial quarter junkie, I've never heard of silver without an "S". Without seeing a photo, it'd be hard to know for sure, however, all the silver for 1976 (proof version and uncirculated version) should have S mintmarks. It's possible that someone filed off the mintmark, but it seems more likely to me that the scale wasn't calibrated finely enough to distinguish from 5.67 and 5.75.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
Could we get pictures please? And also pictures of the edge/reeding?
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Valued Member
United States
73 Posts |
You can tell a 40% quarter from the regular 75% copper/25% nickel clad version, the edge will look different, and will appear more white/gray than the reddish brown-layered edge of the regular coin.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Check the book again. Only some of the S mint coins are 40% silver. None of the D or no mintmark coins contain silver. The weight if 5.75 grams is a little over the intended weight of 5.67 grams but the mint has a +/- .22 gram tolerance allowance. So a normal coppernickel clad quarter can weigh up to 5.89 grams and still be within legal weight.
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
I hope I am in the right section... I fixed that for you.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Quote:
You can tell a 40% quarter from the regular 75% copper/25% nickel clad version, the edge will look different, and will appear more white/gray than the reddish Agree this is the easiest way to tell. You can spot clad from silver just looking at the edge. On a clad coin, you can see the copper core easily. |
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
And if you want to be ABSOLUTELY sure there is the specific gravity test.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
757 Posts |
Could it be a plated quarter?
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Yes. A plated quarter should show no sign of a core. The real thing should show a (possibly faint) copper-silver (80/20) core.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,083 |
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Posted 09/12/2015 9:07 pm
