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 Replies: 15 / Views: 3,607 |
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New Member
Australia
7 Posts |
Firstly, G'day to everyone here. I'm not a collector but I have something I'm really curious about: I've had this coin for about 15 years. It's always been in my wallet and I've kept it as my lucky dollar mainly because I've always wanted to say I've got a lucky dollar! Actually, I'm not that lucky and I've even spent it once but asked the lady to keep it for me until I returned with a swap. Anyhoo, I've just renewed my wallet and I got to thinking, how could this happen to a coin when they stamp them? After much searching of google images, I managed to find you blokes and I'm hoping you have an answer for me? It's a funny looking coin that looks like it was stamped with not enough metal. It does however, have all the markings on both sides and the grooves around the whole coin. The stamp even curves around areas where the coin is too thin. I've attached a couple of images that might show what I'm talking about. Forgive the quality, I'm not a coin photographer.   So, were they drunk in QC that day? |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
I'm thinking it was a less than perfect coin blank (planchet). Surprising it got "out"! They usually cull something so obvious.
Nice coin!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
oh wow! It's reeded even on the uneven parts!
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New Member
 Australia
7 Posts |
That was the bit I found unusual. The fact that this coin was reeded all the way around, stamped well and yet it's quite obviously smaller in every way. I weighed it on the wife's kitchen scales and it said that a regular coin is 9 grams but my lucky dollar weighs 5 grams! It must have been rattling around inside whatever machine makes it.
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New Member
Australia
7 Posts |
I went to a local dealer today and picked up one of those card type coin holders that I've seen here so I don't make the mistake of spending it again.  I thought that this coin was stamped into a too small blank but the dealer believes it is just where someone has dipped it in acid. Go figure? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
I've seen acid dipped coins before, and typically they retain the shape of the coin prior to dipping. They will also tend to look a little more "sandy" or grainy almost as if sand blasted a bit. Interesting that your dealer thinks acid bath. I must admit, a majority of what I've seen have been copper cents, so maybe the reaction is just different. I'm not sure what else would cause the very large weight difference unless it is a wrong planchet coin. Is any of the actual design missing from the coin?
You may want to post this in the US variety section as well. While it's not a US coin, there are quite a few experts there that may have an idea of what has happened in a general sense.
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New Member
Australia
7 Posts |
Thanks for the reply. I think the dealer was more interested in the buyer perusing his Sov's and my lucky dollar didn't get much of a look as he set it in the holder. All of the design is there on both sides and my best guess is the edges are done after the stamping as some of the outside diameter is missing but the edging is complete (if you know what I mean?). I think the funny colour is from being in my soft leather wallet for so long. I gave it a quick polish with a cloth but you can see the result. No matter really, the dollar is only important to me. It replaced a Yankee silver dollar given to me by my late Grandfather but stolen in a burglary many years ago. I just wonder how bad our QC must be in Australia to let this one go out?  |
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Valued Member
Australia
335 Posts |
Just saw this topic. You didn't tell us whay year is on the obverse. Would be good to know.
Wayne
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
1361 Posts |
 Is it real? |
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New Member
Australia
7 Posts |
I'm pretty sure it's real and it's a 1984. I've taken a few more photos but I just can't get a very good result with it in the holder.    |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1295 Posts |
I would say there's a very very very strong possibility your coin has seen time in an acid bath. The texture of the fields is a strong give away.
Edited by markn
08/27/2009 5:59 pm
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New Member
Australia
7 Posts |
Thank you very very very much. And what are fields fields fields?
Given that this coin is now determined to be dissolved, how come the detail of the reeds is still evident around the complete circumference? A side by side comparison shows there's an awful lot of material missing. Could the acid have eaten into the reeds and made them deeper?
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1295 Posts |
The fields are the flat region of a coin that dont have the design on them, so named the bits between the queens portrait and the legend around the edge. Acid dipped coins I've seen generally have rippled or orange peel type surfaces. Regarding the reeding who knows, perhaps who ever did it covered those bits up with silicon when they dipped them (this is how acid etching is done), perhaps they added some features mechanically after the dip. Perhaps because those areas have more metal deformation they react differently with the acid? Hard to say for certain.
Edited by markn
08/28/2009 10:35 pm
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New Member
Australia
7 Posts |
I see. I don't know why anyone would bother. Is it normally done for a reason or is it just boredom and there was nothing else to dissolve in the workshop that day? "Hey Fellas, check out what happened to the end of my screwdriver..." Still, one last photo for you to look at. The coin is very thin and yet the design has managed to remain on both sides? For me, this was the curious part.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1295 Posts |
People do strange things with their time. I've found many defaced $1 coins. The one below is a particular favourite of mine because someone took the time to put my name on it :)  |
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New Member
Australia
7 Posts |
Mabey poor old mark just didnt like $1 coins and wanted the old paper money back as the 1984 was the first MOR $1 coin issued
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Replies: 15 / Views: 3,607 |
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Posted 07/10/2009 3:22 pm
