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 Replies: 21 / Views: 2,508 |
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Rest in Peace
United States
637 Posts |
Came across a 2003-P Alabama State Quarter that has the crisp silver looking reeding of a silver proof. I don't believe the coin is silver in composition, but the reeding has me puzzled as to whether there is no copper, or if it is all secluded within the inner part of the coin? Thank you for any instruction! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1249 Posts |
Well a picture goes a long ways. It could be plated . It isn't a silver proof because that would be an S mint. Check the weight in grams if you can, at the very least too a tenth of a gram, the more accurate the better. Did I mention a picture hahaha. The weight will tell us more and the picture to give you a definitive answer . My guess is it has been plated .
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
We need weight and pictures.
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Rest in Peace
 United States
637 Posts |
Thank you so much for the very quick comments! I do not have access to a scale but can try to get photos. It has been a long time since I posted photos though so I hope I can recall how! It just looks like a regular 25C Phili mint, but with a crisp edge that is a silver color. Photos to come...
Thank again ;)
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1747 Posts |
a 12 year old circulated "silver" coin would be off white and stick out like a sore thumb, if yours is shiny silver-looking most likely its just a uncirculated cupronickel coin and the copper edge is gone.
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Rest in Peace
United States
637 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
637 Posts |
I definitely do not think it is silver, because it is lacking the "ring" of a silver coin when placed on a hard surface.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
My strongest suspicion is that it was silver plated in a high school lab. job.
The original intention perhaps was not to deceive anyone.
Does the "white' surface look any whiter that the standard issue in uncirculated condition?
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Rest in Peace
United States
637 Posts |
Thanks ace_ftw! That is somewhat what I thought was the case, but have never seen a coin with the copper not showing along the edge. I've seen several examples where there was very little on one side and none on the other, so it is very easy to believe that is the case, but I was really thrown off by this piece and its total lack of copper color throughout the outer reeding. Thanks for your reply.
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Rest in Peace
United States
637 Posts |
sel_69l:
No it just looks like your standard 25c business issue. My first thought was plating but I ruled that out almost instantly. I could have been wrong, but it does not look plated, at least as far as I can tell..
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
Probably one of the plated with platinum that the TV hucksters well. You know all the mints in BU and also gold plated and platinum. The way to see the copper edge is to remove a bit of reeding on the edge with a razor blade. Then you can see the copper core.:  Then you know it was a plated example. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
No idea. EDIT: Just thought I'd throw the idea of a wrong planchet out there, although I'm almost positive that's not what it is. twodsonegf- You can get a decent scale on ebay or Amazon at a low price. Mine's good and only cost me $10-12. Edited by Numisma
10/19/2015 6:48 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
637 Posts |
Thanks for the replies coop and Numisma
I will try the razor blade technique to see if plating is involved. I appreciate the tip!
Seems I will also be in the market for a cheap scale soon too, though I haven't needed one til now.. thanks for that tip too Numisma
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Hold on- I advise against using the razor, as if the coin just so happens to be worth something that would destroy its value. You can get a scale within a few days and then use the weight.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
I don't think the razor would diminish any value the coin hold, IF it is an actual error. The reeding is something that no one really looks at, and it is only taking a small layer off.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Silver or platinum plated is my guess. John1  |
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Replies: 21 / Views: 2,508 |
Posted 10/19/2015 5:53 pm
