I have a 2004 Iowa quarter that has no copper insert in the reeded edge

Hello, everyone. I am new to this site. I have an approximated MS 62, 2004 Iowa state quarter, Philly mint, with no copper in the reeded edge. The quarter appears to be nickel metal all the way through. It looks much brighter when compared to other Iowa P and D quarters, and it's one-tenth of a gram more than what it's supposed to be. I took it to my coin shop, and they were shocked to see this type of error coin. I will have it graded by ANACS or PCGS, but I was wondering if anyone has heard of this type of error.

Thank you!

 

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Just off the top of my head... could it be one of the .999 silver proofs they where selling a while back?

 

All of the things that you have pointed to indicate that the coin was plated. Many of the statehood quarters were plated with silver, gold, platinum, etc. by nonmint organizations back when they were still being produced. The coins were targeted for the noncollecting market which believed that the plating would make them worth more. The weight is the biggest clue to this being plated, since the plating would add that bit of weight.

I wouldn't suggest having it graded; it would only be a waste of money.

And, Welcome to the forum.

 

I agree. Is the reeding weak?

 

Thank you for replying, ultralight. Honestly, in looking at this coin, it doesn't have the characteristics of being plated. I have looked at the possibilities and discussed them with my coin dealer, and they stated it wasn't plated. I even thought the coin was a counterfeit, however, it appears it's not. I will check around for a dealer in San Diego who specializes in error coins. I really want to say thank you for replying, and I hope to be a contributor to this wonderful site! Thanks for welcoming me, too!

 

I agree with ultralight. If it is brighter than others, and weighs more (that should be the end all of this question) then it is plated. It sounds plated from your description. I don't see what else it could be.

 

Not at all. The strike is nice, and there are no variations in the metal. The coin has some contact marks. Usually, if a coin is plated with platinum, it has a higher polish than nickel. The coin really needs to be looked at. I have made an appointment with a gentleman who specializes in error coins, so I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Thanks, all!

 

Who said it had to be platinum? If it was plated by someone who knows what they are doing I would expect there be no variations as well. I saw a chrome plated War Nickel that looked like it was minted that way. Contact marks mean nothing. There can be contact marks on top of plating. It's the same as contact marks on any other coin...

 

May be from a worn blanking punch, that would allow the nickel to lay over the copper core giving it an all silver look...

 

Even if it is a mint error, it's still not that remarkable, right? I mean, the copper layer is still in there, the clad outside is just thicker or something. I have a '67 quarter that looks the same on the edges, and I was told that it's just not showing the inner copper layer, and it's not really an error and not worth any more than a normal quarter.

 

It's probably a worthless plated quarter someone got duped into buying. There are 1000's of them in circulation.

 

I hope it is a genuine mis-made quarter. Can you post a picture?

 

Hello, mecha1166. I should have done that from the start.

Thanks,

LAGilbert

 

Found same exact thing

I found what sounds like the exact same thing today. 2004 P Iowa that "looks" completely silver all the way through the rim, you can easily point it out amongst other quarters but is not any more shiny or different looking on the face of the coin. The reeding is very sharp not dull at all.

I was wondering if anyone ever found anything else more about it.

I tried looking it up and can't find anything about even the possibility or anyone else having an error coin like this before i saw this thread.

Thanks so much for any information

 

1. Need a picture. 2. Need a picture. 3. Need a picture. There are many experts here that will answer your questions quickly and accurately. Just one thing. Need a picture so we can start.

 

A while back a friend of mine asked me basically the same question. I told him to let me do some research and I'd get back to him in a day or two. He got impatient and took a razor blade to the valley of the reeding in a small area (NO, DON'T DO IT!). Turned out his was plated, but DO NOT damage your coin!!!!

 

Most likely plated. I had sets of these when they were first introduced along with the painted versions. How much does it weigh?

 

Get some tin snips and clip it in half. Then you'll see the copper layer. If there is no copper layer after doing that, though, then bummer man. You just ruined a quarter on a foreign planchet or something.

All jokes aside, though, it's most likely just a regular quarter. The odds of being something other than plated or just not showing the clad layer are very small.

 

So what is the verdict? Newbie comes here with a question, no picture then leaves. Welcome to the forum.

 

I tried to take pictures and none of them come out clearly enough to be able to tell anything. Most people said it is just probably plated. If there are any suggestions to taking clear close up pictures of my coin I'll be happy to post them