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 Replies: 13 / Views: 7,150 |
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New Member
United States
21 Posts |
Hello All. I'm kinda new at searching through coins I have had in my possession for thee past 55 years or so and have come across a 1979 Washington quarter that weighs 5.2 grams. Pretty much all the quarters I have come across weigh 5.5 - 5.7 grams. What made me notice it in the first place was when I dropped it a few inches on to the table where I look through the coins it had a dull flat sound kind of like the difference between a copper Lincoln Cent and a zinc Lincoln Cent. Almost like dropping a poker chip onto a table. Was just wondering what maybe some of you experts thoughts are with this one. Thanks in advance for any of your assistance. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7505 Posts |
The weight on your coin although light but is not off the chart.Can you post a picture? both front and back and the edge. Be sure your scale is correct and has been calibrated. Tolerance :+/- .19gr Clad Washington QuartersDates: 1965-1998 Composition: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel Weight: 5.67 grams Diameter: 24.3 mm Silver Washington QuartersDates: 1932-1964 Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper Weight: 6.25 grams Silver Clad Washington QuartersDates: 1976 Composition: 40% silver, 60% copper Weight: 5.75 grams BTW,  to the Forum. Edited by Chase007
01/18/2019 12:04 pm
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New Member
 United States
21 Posts |
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! I verified scale is accurate as after weighing about 20 Washington quarters (newer than 1964) all weighed consistently at 5.5 - 5.7 grams but this one is 5.2 grams. Couldn't get a really good pic of this coin with iphone 7+ camera so not sure if these will be of much help. If not I can try to see if I can get a better pic with my 50mm Konica for you. Thanks again for your help!   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1005 Posts |
Interesting, it is below tolerance, perhaps it could be a thin stock error?
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New Member
United States
21 Posts |
Could be I guess. Looking at the coin on a flat surface I can't see any difference in thickness but one thing I forgot to mention is that the edge of the coin is smooth unlike most quarters. Also, I know you probably couldn't tell by the pics but there is also some raised spots on the obverse side that kind of look like air bubbles for lack of a better term. Not really sure what's up with this one but maybe I can get a local coin dealer to look at it and see what he thinks. Thanks for your help, I really appreciate your assistance.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
The edge is smooth? All the way around? Try backing your phone camera away and zooming in about 40-50% instead of holding it so close. Mine gets much better focus that way. Then post a clear picture of the edge.
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New Member
United States
21 Posts |
Yes. Smooth all the way around. Here's another pic that came out a little better.  |
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New Member
United States
21 Posts |
Here is a little better pics of the obverse and reverse of the coin.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Here's the edge of a 1965 I had laying on my desk. So that by itself isn't unusual I guess. I was thinking intentionally smooth like a nickel but yours seems to have evidence of former reeding.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
The mint tolerance is actually 5.67 +/- 0.23 grams for clad Washington quarters. The +/- 0.19 gram tolerance mentioned above was for 90% silver Washington quarters from 1947 to 1964. It was even tighter than that in prior years. Your coin has significant wear and/or damage with the reeded edges basically gone. A weight of 5.2 grams for such a piece is not unusual. |
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
to the Community! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5029 Posts |
and I think BH hit the mail on the head. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7505 Posts |
Thank you for the additional pics.
This coin used to be a slot machine quarter and due to significant wear has lost all the reeding and therefor weight, It's a spender.
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New Member
United States
21 Posts |
Well, that's kind of what I thought. Nothing valuable but that dull, flat sound it makes when dropping a few inches on a table was what had me puzzled. Thank you all so much for the help and all the welcomes to the community. It looks like I finally found a place where I can get help with some of the questions I have had like with a 1982 Eisenhower Type II dollar that has some what I think are called bag marks but to me seems to look better than the MS-67's I have seen pics of like on the PCGS site. Thanks again everybody and I hope maybe I can help someone else out the way I have been helped!
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Replies: 13 / Views: 7,150 |
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Posted 01/18/2019 2:52 pm
