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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,155 |
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
I found a 2005 S dime yesterday while going through a box of dimes. I was wondering if it is silver. I also found a 1954-D, and 2 1964-D. Not too bad. Any response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Valued Member
United States
277 Posts |
Drop it on a table. If it sounds like a bell it's silver. Otherwise it's just a clad proof. There may be better ways to tell, but that usually works for me if I can't see it.
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Valued Member
United States
135 Posts |
It might be silver. Then again it might not. It IS a proof dime and not meant for circulation. PS to fatcat161: people cringe when I suggest using the "drop test" on coins but it is one of the best and fastest ways of seperating the wheat from the chaff. Since this coin has been pulled from circulation what's a few more bruises?  Edited by FreezerBurn
10/24/2008 1:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1015 Posts |
Holding just the edge of the coin with a pair of cotton gloves and pointing the edge to you,you should see a copper/silver laminated core this is a 2005 S clad if you don't see the copper but only silver this is 2005 S silver
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New Member
 United States
7 Posts |
I figured the proof part out and it is clad because of the sound. Not to sound stupid but what is a clad proof? Thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1015 Posts |
Its a lamination of copper and silver or a copper coin with a thin silver layer on it from Frisco mint oh and P.S. the other coins are silver
Edited by nuggethill
10/24/2008 2:00 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Proof is a special method of minting a coin. Since 1975, all circulating-design coins( except SBAs in 1979 and 1980) with the S mint mark(San Francisco) are proofs. A proof coin is struck on specially polished planchets with dies that have frosted devices. The presses strike the coin with a higher pressure than normal circulation strikes, bringing out the full sharp detail of the coin. Currently, you can purchase proof sets from the Mint in copper nickel clad(same as business strike coins) or 90% silver. Edit: thanks for the correction Elimist, I always forget about those SBAs Edited by biokemist6
10/24/2008 2:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1015 Posts |
Thanks Bio you explained it far better than I could
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Thank you very much. All of the info was greatly appreciated.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
632 Posts |
With a small adendum to biokemist comments. The san franscisco mint did mint circulating Susan B. Anthony dollars during 79 and 80 that bore the 's' mint mark. They also produced the '81 series of the SBA's but all of those where NIFC I think. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Its a lamination of copper and silver or a copper coin with a thin silver layer on it from Frisco mint When they talk about a clad proof they mean a proof coin made from the same clad material used on the circulation coins a copper core with layers of copper nickel bonded to it. There is no silver in them at all. The only silver clad proofs were the 40% silver 1968 -70 S halves, the 1971 - 74 S brown Ikes, and the 40% silver bicentennial quarter, half, and dollar. Those were a core of (roughly) 80%copper 20% silver with outer layers of 80% silver 20% copper. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2540 Posts |
check the edge for copper, easiest way.
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Valued Member
United States
277 Posts |
FreezerBurn, that's what I was thinking. I figured anything in circulation isn't going to be hurt by one more drop. :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1228 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1228 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Becoming difficult to tell since home invasions, coin store robberies, etc are placing numerous valuable coins into circulation. Crooks don't care what the coin is as long as it spends. Many crooks also take coin collections to coin counting machines and just dump them in. A Silve Dime Proof is rather on the difficult side to detect after in change for a while. Same with Clad Proof ones. The coin being small and the edges getting abused makes it difficult to tell what is what.
Dropping a coin to hear the difference is really a not to smart answer. Most people are not that good with hearing in the first place and the continuing denting of any coins is rather just for people that don't care. I've heard this explained so many times and I've proved that with older people, as an example, that test just doesn't work.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,155 |
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Posted 10/24/2008 1:41 pm
