2001-P Rhode Island Quarter - Reverse Looks Like A Proof - What Gives?

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,287
mrak Valued Member United States 99 Posts	Posted 12/09/2023 8:52 pm I am trying to figure what's going on this quarter. In short, it is a regular 2001P Rhode Island quarter but the reverse reflects light with the same intensity as a proof coin. I doubt the reverse is a proof, though it virtually indistinguishable from one, so what other things could be going on? The reverse itself is not polished, lots of cartwheel, so maybe an overly polished die could produce this effect? Perhaps it's an early die state coin? Asking for ideas/opinions. I happened to have an impaired 2001S proof so that is shown in pics for side by side comparison, as well a standard BU example. Note the reflection patterns are very similar between the first two close-up pics (the coin in question vs. impaired proof). Report this Post to the Staff

Errers and Varietys Bedrock of the Community United States 73900 Posts	Posted 12/09/2023 10:07 pm Interesting. Maybe toning? Errers and Varietys. Report this Post to the Staff
mrak Valued Member United States 99 Posts	Posted 12/09/2023 10:44 pm No toning on any of these coins. I'll be the first to admit that my pics don't really represent very well. If the Philadelphia mint made proof coins I'd be inclined to think someone used a proof reverse die with a business obverse die but only SF has those dies so I don't really see how that situation would be possible here. Just trying to think of alternative explanations. Mainly want to toss this in a flip, but would prefer to have the label correct .... thus this post. Report this Post to the Staff
silviosi Pillar of the Community Canada 6244 Posts	Posted 12/09/2023 11:20 pm @mrak Quote: I'd be inclined to think someone used a proof reverse die with a business obverse die For the quarters, the Dies are not so different. The differences consist in the degrees of the planchet polishing. I agrees that the Dies for proof are slight better polished and manufactured for vertical 2 strike presses and not for 850 coins minute as the horisontal presses for business.. Second, for this series only DCAM was involved so additional steps are done. Many nice quarters look a little bit frose, but those coins never has this. This procedure is done by laser, and has nothing to do with the Die preparation, it is complete other step of the production line. IMHO you has an quarter strike in the very begin of the Die life. Report this Post to the Staff
mrak Valued Member United States 99 Posts	Posted 12/10/2023 12:17 am Quote: IMHO you has an quarter strike in the very begin of the Die life. Yes, this is the direction I was leaning. Below is a picture of the obverse, which (in hand) looks just like a normal business strike. So we have a very regular looking obverse with a proof like looking reverse. Could something have happened to the reverse die that caused the mint to replace it with a new die so that the obverse and reverse dies were of different ages? Report this Post to the Staff
silviosi Pillar of the Community Canada 6244 Posts	Posted 12/10/2023 12:34 am The answer it is yes. The Dies life on 850 stroke a minute it is not long. The Hammer is suppose to go 100K but for Quarters never pass 80K coins. the anvil it is around 120 to 150K coins. After they are change. Took 3 minutes to change so for the Mint it is almost nothing. In fact each press work 45 min per hour, rest it is changes in the Dials and Dies. I prepare to post here an document with the photos and some permited specs of this new technology and the differences from the Mints (P,D,S). Edited by silviosi 12/10/2023 12:36 am Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 95360 Posts	Posted 12/10/2023 09:53 am It is possible that the reverse die got damaged and was replaced and was mated to the first obverse die. This could show a huge difference in quality between the 2 faces of the coin. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
mrak Valued Member United States 99 Posts	Posted 12/10/2023 2:37 pm @Silviosi & Dearborn, thanks for your comments. Yes, suspect something happened like Dearborn's comment. Am very familiar with the appearance difference between uncirculated & proof coins. This one had me fooled until I flipped it over and saw it was from the Philadelphia mint! Maybe I'm just not familiar enough with the surface details produced from an essentially new die. Report this Post to the Staff
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