2003 Maine P mistake

I recieved this coin from the mint. It is a 2003 Maine P Quarter. I was wondering what could have caused this to happen and how much it might be worth? I would assume it was a material defect.

Thank You

James Simmons

 

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It looks like it is missing the clad layer...can you weigh it?
The post office should be able to weigh it for you....

What does the other side look like?

It might be plated and it so it worth less...if it is missing the clad layer it could be worth a great deal.

Speedy

 

Here are 2 more pictures. I am going to get myself a scale later today. It seems like it could be a very useful tool.

Thank you

James

 

I don't know...I have a funny feeling about this...I thought when I saw the back that what looks to be a little clad showing through was some from the other side of the coin but since both sides are the same color I think it is plated...The rim looks ok.

I have heard of "suspect" (I think that is what they are called) planchets that have copper dust on them and it appears copper and not clad but I don't think that is what happened.

The weight should tell us somethings.

Speedy

 

Hard to say what might have happened to the quarter, but it does not appear to be an error from the mint. I would chalk up the appearance to environment factors - exposure to heat, chemicals, etc.

 

I got the coin from my grandmother who has been ordering the statehood quarters for us from the mint. Actually my mom orders them for her they get sent to my grandma then she send ours to us. Its not platted because it is straight from the mint. The pictures are a little dark. Now that I look at them the copper dust theory looks like a possiblity, because it looks kind of coppery silver and bluish silver. I thought it was a neet find. I really like the way it looks.

Thank you for the help.

James Simmons

P.S. I'll have the weight tonight, hopefully.

 

How does she order them from the mint...in a mint sewn bag?
IF it is a suspect planchet I would send it off to get graded and slabbed by one of the top for--PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG---ANACS would be cheapest and I like them just as good as NGC and PCGS...ICG is alright...sometimes they tend to over grade some.

Maybe Mike will stop over here and give you his $1 worth of info...he knows a lot more about errors than I do.

Speedy

 

You are quick with the reply. Thanks. I might just do that eventually. I just wanted to know a little bit about it for my own personal gratification. I have collected here and again as a kid and I am know a beginner amatuer coin collector who plans to carry on wiht the hobby. This time I won't make the mistake I made as a kid and clean all my coins. lol

Thanks again all for the information.

James Simmons

P.S. To answer your question Speedy, they get them in the two roll set for around thirty.

 

Nice...

Not to be rude...but she would save a lot if she got them at the bank and form some coin dealers...now if shes leaves them sealed in the mint roll then I would see why!!

I made the same mistakes about cleaning...but now when I get a problem coin I resell I put it in a box for resell...I have had to clean some coins becuase of damage or PVC or such....

Hope you like it here!!!

Speedy

 

Can anyone give me an approximate value? I am planning on sending it in to have it graded. I, in my infinite wisdom, would think it to be worth a good deal. My reasoning would be because it sounds like it is an extemely rare type of error and a fragile error, that only a little circulation would erace. How much a good deal is? I have no ideal though. Not much experiance to help me here.

Thanks

James

P.S. They get them from the mint for ease and convenance. I would go to my local dealer, but I get them from my grandma so I dont need to.

 

Where are you going to send it??

PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG ?

Have you had a dealer look at it?
If you send it to PCGS, NGC, ICG, you will have to have a dealer do it for you as that is the only way they will take coins for grading...ANACS isn't like that.

Speedy

 

I had done some looking on the forums and had decided to send it to ANACS and take them up on the 5 Buesness Day thing. I just need to find 4 other coins worth sending in. I have three silver dollars so I will brobaly send those in. In that case I only need to find one more.

I have not had a dealer look at it. I just found that their is one in my nieghboring town in Beaumont. Intresting thing is, I discovered it was their through an ad in a National Geographic. Kind of odd for this small town place.

I'll probally take over their some day. I don't like to take it out much though. After you gave me the copper dust theory I am worried that the finish could easly be ruined.

Thanks alot

James Simmons

 

I would take it to a dealer first...he can see it in hand where we can't...so he might have a better idea....

Also he might be able to send it in for you and save you finding 4 more coins...most of the time dealers have a few coins that need grading.

Speedy

 

Thanks for the info and tips.

James Simmons

 

Hello and thanks again for all the help.

Yesterday I visited my local coin dealer and he told me that he had never seen the error and that I should just wait before sending it in because they might just classify it as cleaned or altered since it seems to be a new or seldem ever seen error. So I decided to email some folks have seen alot of error coins and ask them what their thought was. I'll post their reply's.

"Hello Mr. Simmons,

Thank you for your email and scans of your Maine Quarter.

It is known as a "CopperWash", which is an improper annealing of
the blank planchet, before the coin is struck.....

It is known on all denominations, and as a general price guide, is worth
$35-$65, or thereabouts, as a retail value.....

It's a nice find, and a pretty coin. Enjoy it as an interesting conversation
piece, and an example of how the Minting Process can "go wrong" sometimes.

Regards,
Fred Weinberg
Website: www.FredWeinberg.com"

"Dear Mr. Simmons,

Thank you for your email. Our mint error expert has stated "There is an
error that involves "improperly annealed planchets" that will result in
a variation in the color of the planchets, sometimes copper in color".

I hope this addresses your inquiry. You may wish to contact the American
Numismatic Association at 800-367-9723; they are a wonderful resource of
reference material.

Best regards,
Melissa Pearce
NGC Customer Service
email address removed
1-800-642-2646 X197"

It is kind of wierd how that can happen from improper annealing. I would have thought that would have caused a rainbowy color. But hey learn something every day.

Thanks Again

James Simmons

 

Hey James...I would trust Mr Weinberg--I have emailed him before and he seems like he knows what he talks about...

If you send it to ANACS make sure you mark on the form where it says....(Country/Variety/Designation) "CopperWash" or they won't list it...you have to list it and then if they agree with you then they list it.

Speedy

 

Thank you

Anacs just sent me this reply. I munged it because thay have a privacy statment on the bottom.

Thanks again.

James Simmons

"Dear Mr. Simmons;



Thank you for your inquiry. We have seen this phenomenon before. We can certify them if we are sure it was mint made. It is something that can be done after strike.



I hope that this answered your question.



Best Regard;



John Doe

Position Here, ANACS LLC"

 

Hello should I put "Copperwash or copper dust" and let them decide because as you read from anacs they said that they have seen the copper dust error. Or at least it sounds like it. Here is the email I sent them. I sent the same message to all of them except NGC because they did not have an email address available. They had an online question form.

Thank you

James Simmons

P.S. And how much do you think I should put down for the value on the ANACS submision form?

"To whom ever it may concern.

Hello. I have recently come across a Maine Quarter (P) that has a coppery tone. Others I have discussed this with have suggested that it might be an error in cleaning were copper dust was left on the planchet before striking. They said they had heard of it however it was suspect. I know my quarter came from the mint so anything that caused this happend at the mint. Has your company seen this error? I have attached photos of the coin.

Thank you for your time.

James Simmons"

 

I think they will take either one...

I sent in some coins as--Struck Thru and some as Struck in debris and they all came back the same....Struck Thru....BTW...you don't have to add the $1 to have them add such things to the grade...

Speedy

 

Thank you

I am sending out today.

Thanks Again

James Simmons