2008 P Arizona Quarter- Something Different.

Some additional close-up pics.

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Funny that none of the hundreds of denver mint coins that I have looked at show the same weakness.

Maybe they were just all earlier die state coins ?

Hi Bill:

With respect to your remark about the die-chips being as common as sand for Arizona State Quarters,

Could you please either reference or post a list of ALL die-chip errors for this State- I'd really like to know exactly how many different die-chips are out there, besides the one that I have.

Thanks,
Chuck.

'skidoo chips' huh? is that a technical numismatic term?

Hi Guys,

A few points. I said: "These die chips on Arizona quarters are as common as sand:-)" and ...they are. I didn't say your quarter specifically, although for the reasons I will mention below, there will likely be many more just like yours. In fact there are die chips that can found in each series of the States quarters.

Any combination of die chips is possible based upon where the dies will want to break. Many dies will break similarly due to the design. It is a known fact in numismatics that when details are sunk into a die and the details are very close to each other or there are small portions like the insides of zeroes, that those spots on the dies will, after huge numbers of poundings begin to break. The result is that when they break away from the die, what we call die chips will result on the coins struck from that die.

Die chips are common and unless a die shatters, the die will continue to be used. When you figure out the number of dies used, and the numbers of coins struck from each die, coins like yours will be everywhere because the dies will chip out in similar places since it can be related to weaknesses in the design. So potentially using simple numbers, 1000 dies, each with chips can potentially produce 300,000,000 to 400,000,000 coins. There are more dies used therefore even more coins with chips can be produced from just one Mint.

Take into consideration that for your specific coin, it is possible for there to be several hundred thousand coins just like yours , struck from the very same die since the die will be used until it is completely useless.

This business of die chips and minor die cracks has been written about for ten years in numismatic publications. You can read this and it is when Vicky was working at CW. By the way, the "FIRST STAT" quarter mentioned was mine and I did a Found In Rolls column that included it a very long time ago. As far as die chips, It is something that has been known about since the States quarter program started. The article explains why.

http://www.statequarters.com/Errors.asp

I am not putting down your coin, as I wasn't specific to your coin when I commented on the relationship to sand:-) but the fact is that they are incredibly common and there will be a huge number just like yours out there. If they don't pass through the hands of collectors, they won't all be found, but they surely will be out there.

Thanks,
Bill

Hi SeattleMD,

"A coin could be struck by a die with one chip, two chips or twenty-three skidoo chips."

Just paying homage to Dr. Seuss:-) (Theodor Geisel)

Have Fun,
Bill

I got one roll of these same mint quarters from the bank. I haven't opened the roll yet but the quarter on one end has the same chips as what's in the origal post. Covered initials and a chip at the bottom part of the banner. I haven't taken the time to closely examine it for anything else. ebay also has some of these listed. So, yeah, they're pretty common.

Regarding common as dirt die chips, just look at the BIE "errors" of the Lincoln Cent series. Some designs just have an inherent weak point or two in the design and they will show up in the late die state coins.