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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,583 |
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
Hello all, I work at a gas station so I get to see and handle all the money that comes in and out. I opened a roll of quarters and I knew one sounded funny and so when I counted my drawer I discovered a 1965 quarter with a great deal of tarnish. The look but also the sound of it really piqued my interest. Can someone tell me how I can visually look at it (great deal of tarnish mind you) if it is silver or what else it is made of and also an estimated value? Any information would be greatly appreciated.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
24856 Posts |
 to the CCF, Jehessaps! First, look at the edge to see if it is a clad quarter. However, it may be difficult to see that because of how stained / tarnished it is. The next step is to weigh it to the nearest 0.01 g. A silver quarter from 1964 originally weighed 6.25 grams, while clad quarters from 1965 on weigh 5.67 g. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10470 Posts |
You can always use a pencil erasure on the edge of the coin - the copper will show up instantly as a pinkish colored material.
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Moderator
Australia
16804 Posts |
The black coloration is probably from fire damage, which would also explain why it "sounded funny".
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Moderator
United States
15381 Posts |
to the CCF Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
It looks like a normal cupro-nickel clad quarter that's been buried for a long period of time and dug up by a metal detectorist. I suspect the corrosion and crud is making it 'sound' different. A 90% silver coin would be very unlikely to turn this color: one that's been in circulation for 60 years or has been buried would retain its silver appearance.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19106 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
to the Community! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
That's great that you're able to see all the change that comes through there. I've worked a couple of register jobs and was always excited to check through the drawer!
The mint stopped making silver quarters in 1964. They switched to a mix of copper and nickel in 1965. No reason to suspect this one would be made of silver.
Estimated value? 25 cents.
Edited by jpsned
02/24/2025 11:33 am
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Moderator
United States
54280 Posts |
That's a "Black Ugly".
Show your financial support of the Coin Community Family (click here)See my topic on Mexican Numismatic Medals (click here) |
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Valued Member
United States
89 Posts |
Would need to look at the rim
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73559 Posts |
To CCF! I agree with the above comments. Errers and Varietys.
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Moderator
United States
94574 Posts |
to CCF. could be a dug coin, or as stated above it was in a fire.. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1655 Posts |
You can weigh it, but I see no reason to believe that it is silver. It looks like the environmental damage that dug clad coins have, silver doesn't do this.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
612 Posts |
Most likely a really odd looking 1965 quarter. I wouldn't expect fire damage, under intense heat of a house fir3 for example, the copper and nickel usually begin to separate, you would likely see a slight bulge.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7174 Posts |
to the CCF and  environmental damage. |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,583 |
Posted 02/24/2025 02:16 am
