Gold-Plated State Quarters

Plated coins fact.

• These are not made by the government.
• These have no extra value.
• Whatever gold is plating is on the coin is too small to have value and cannot be removed.

Gold-Plated vs. normal quarter.

So how much gold is on these coins? Well about two cents or less per coin assuming it was 24 karat gold. They use electroplating which layers one atom layer at a time on the surface. It may be a few microns thick and so tightly bonded that taking it off is nearly impossible. Working one hour at a fast food joint would get you more money and free fries.

 

 

 

Statehood quarters were layered in platinum, silver, gold, and many types of materials as a novelty to amateur collectors. Statehood quarters were so new for U.S. coins that many companies tried to exploit the small frenzy and falsely claimed these were investment coins.

Collecting is an opinion. You should collect what you like but there are collecting communities who set guidelines. For coins the main limit is that a coin is collectible if it is issued by a government and any changes made outside the mint is considered Post Mint Damage (PMD).

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 25 Cents - Rhode Island / United States
Year: 2001 P
Metal: 91.67% Copper 8.33% Nickel, Traces of Gold
Mintage: 423,000,000
Value: $0.25 in F-12


Type/Country: 25 Cents - Virginia / United States
Year: 2000 P
Metal: 91.67% Copper 8.33% Nickel, Traces of Gold
Mintage: 943,000,000
Value: $0.25 in F-12

Do you have a state quarter and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

1973-D Half Dollar

Not the first time i found a coin with this shade of magenta paint on it. It does kind of ruin any extra value the coin may have but this one is common so it does not matter.

I do not know which company colorized these coins but it does not matter. At the end it is a novelty selling for $4.00 or more. Please never buy these as they are considered damaged. Even as art they are worthless since they are mass produced.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 50 Cents / United States
Year: 1973-D
Mintage: 83,171,400
Metal: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel
Value: $0.50 in EF-40

Have a fifty cent coin from America and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

U.S. Cent Missing Obverse, Damage?

This is the third time I got a coin that looks exactly like this in my change. It could be damage or a missing clad layer error.

 There are no circular grooves common in drilled coins. The surface is exposed zinc core is flat and even.

The edge is also perfectly smooth and no hint of altering.

The back may be dirty but it near perfect with no warping and what looks like full steps.

This is not a true Missing Clad Layer error because the front would be stamped. So it could be a lamination error. Lamination errors happen when part of the metal peels off. So is it possible that whole front peeled off?

Still I think it is damaged but not being an expert on errors I cannot say for sure. If you have any information just leave a comment below.

1996 Canada Cent

Eww, this one is being eaten alive by some white stuff. Copper corrodes green and only iron-copper mixtures corrode with white. I suspect that the zinc in the coin may started reacting to an acid seeing how both sides show liquid damage.

This coin of course has no collectors value but it still has metal value. I have plenty of other 1996 Canadian cents so if I decide to toss this back into circulation it is no big loss. I do not like putting corroded coins with normal coins because the chemical reaction tends to spread.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 1996
Mintage: 445,746,000
Metal: 98% Copper,1.5% Zinc, and 0.5% Tin
Value: $0.02 in EF-40

Do you have a cent from Canada and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Like A Hole In The Head

Quarters are the easy coin to drill to make jewelry with because the size allows for secure clamping. I have found quarters with holes in my change before.

This one seems like a halfhearted effort. The drilling exposed the copper core and looked clean but the person stopped before punching through. If it would have went through the other side it would surface under the bison in front of the 2006 date.

The possible pendant would have looked weird since it drills through Washington's head and puts the reverse upside down so maybe that is why the person stopped drilling. This coin is now damaged and holds no extra value, although it never did while it circulated.

Copper Quarter, Acid Wash

Do you have a quarter and want to know its value? Leave a comment

At first I thought this one was damaged, then I thought it was an error, and now I am sure it was corroded by some type of acid. It could have been water but with a high pH since it still can cause this type of damage. I show this because many people find copper quarters and think it is some type of error.

The first thing I always advise is to weigh it. That is generally good advice but if the coin is acid washed then it will weigh less. A normal quarter weighs 5.67 grams but this "copper" quarter weighs 5.32 grams. Since nickel makes up 8.33% then any quarter missing both clad layers would weigh less than 5.20 grams. That is a good guess although variants exist.

This one also has other clues that is not a true error. For one thing it is not sharp. All the details are obscured and fuzzy. Even being old it would have greater detail if struck on copper. Second it is very dented and scratched which could be an attempt to clean it. Third is that the rim still shows hints of the silver colored copper-nickel clad layer.

Errors are very cool but sometimes an obvious damaged coin is just that. Even if it was an error most of the value is gone due to the terrible condition.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 25 Cents / United States
Year: 1965
Mintage: 1,819,717,540
Metal: 91.67% Copper 8.33% Nickel
Value: $0.25 because it is a quarter

I doubt this would make it through any vending machine but I will not test that theory.

Do you have a quarter from America and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Smooth Edge Quarters

Have a damaged coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Often people think they found a special quarter that lacks the reeded edge. They think this is an error and the mint forgot to add the ridges on the edge. Unfortunately in 99% of the cases this is just normal wear.

Pictured above is a mix of state quarters, 1990s quarters, and two 1970s quarters. Can you tell which Washington quarters are from 1972 and 1973?

That is right the ones with almost no ridges are the oldest. They also have slightly thicker edges and a bit of a raised rim. All of this is natural. Quarters are heavy and the edge gets banged around a lot and over time this spreads the edge. As a result of the thickening edge the face of the coin stays on a lower level and is less worn given the illusion that that it was specially made this way.

Despite being made of copper and nickel these metals are very easily altered. It does not take a lot of pressure to move the metal and thousand of small hits a year for 40 years makes a naturally smooth edge.

So this is not an error or a variety but just how some quarters end up. So what about the 1% of coins that are not worn? Well they are a mix of fakes, purposefully altered, or a out of collar strike. The out of collar strike has other telling signs like be larger not smaller in diameter.

The Value
No extra value.
Since this is not an error and alters the coin it will only cause a coin to lose value. Face value will stay but occasionally the edge becomes so thick it cannot be used in vending machines.

Sidenote: Found a 1973 Canadian dime but since I got one three months ago it does not need to be re-posted. 

Do you have damaged coins and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Ewww George

Do you have a dollar bill and want to know its value? Leave a comment

This is the third Where's George? dollar I found. It is also one of the dirtiest bills I ever got. I have said before how much I dislike the over-stamping of money. Especially the Where's George? community who become obsessive and ruin hundred of thousand of notes. Often these notes are handled so much that they break down faster and get grimy.

TRACK

ME AT

WWW.

WHERES

GEORGE

.COM

Track this bill at www.WheresGeorge.com

This bill was first defaced on September 10, 2011 in Cranford, NJ. I was the first person to report this bill at the site. The person who defaced this note is a bit obsessed with stamping notes as many others on the site. Here's the stats:

Bills Entered:	11,569	Hit Rate:	10.07%
Bills with Hits:	1,165	Total Hits:	1,315
Days of Inactivity:	3	George Score:	1,024.11
Wilds Found:	42	Overall Rank:	1,919
State Rank (New Jersey)	59	State Percentile :	98.60

The person is an older guy and I will not show the serial number. Although I do not like this game I will not ruin it for others.

Here's the original stats...
Type/Country: 1 Dollar / United States
Year: 2006
Date Printed: September 2009
Printings: 96,000,000
Run: 3rd from B12800000M -B19199999M
Value: $1.00 in this shape

P.S. If I ever find a rare note that was stamped I will release all the covered serial numbers this way the game is ruined.

P.P.S. My experiment with using cash to pay a bill instead of e-pay resulted only in the ugly note above.

Do you have a currency note and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Black Friday Finds

Not talking about something on sale. I am talking about a good opportunity over the next few weeks to find odd and possibly value coins and currency in your change. No need to roll hunt at your bank or buy coins lots from dealers. This is way more simple.

How to get change finds:
1. Use cash
--This is great because there is no interest on credit cards and you get the actually change.

2. Make friends while checking out
--Cashiers and others shoppers have odd money and being kind will go far. Foreigners may need help making change and you can help. Most tourists are happy to sell or give small change they consider common.

3. Recognize damage vs. error
--This is damaged...

Coins are tough but it takes very little pressure, heat, or chemical (ie. water, salt) to alter them dramatically. The coin pictured above looks like someone tried to cut it with wire or bolt cutters. The reason why is not important but it is not an error. If you know the basic minting process then this cannot happen at any minting stage and there for has no extra value.

Still if your not sure put it aside and take good pictures.

4. Bring extra money for trade
--Anytime you go shopping you should bring 2-5 of the most common coins. Here in the U.S. carry 5 pennies, 5 nickels, 5 dimes, 5 quarters, and 5 dollar bills for trade. Use them to swap out old coins in pick-a-penny tray or to give to the cashier if you find out they have a few old notes. If 5 is too many then cut it down to what you feel comfortable carrying.

5. Keep a sharp eye out
--Opportunities for finds are everywhere. Look on the ground, look on the counters, check other people's change, and especially your own change.

6. Know what is common for your change versus rare
--Although you hardly see $2 bills in the U.S. most are common so unless you really want them just pass it on. Do a little research on when silver coins were last made or if replacement notes look different or even if certain years carry more errors.

Good luck and yes the turkey was delicious. 

Damage Exposes Layers

Do you have a damaged coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Many people do not know that out current cents are made of a sandwich of copper which a yummy zinc center. So when the top layer is scraped off due to damage some people believe it is some type of error. Copper cents are not solid copper.

Clad cents have been around in the United States since 1982 but few people noticed the difference. Many people have been hoarding the older cents for there tiny copper value but for the most part those cents in your change are a good mix of full copper and clad cents.

At first glance it looks like an error but quickly you see the scrape marks where it has been filed. The zinc layer is nicely exposed. The design is gone. Were this an error it would either have the full design on the zinc it would be a missing clad layer error. Or it could be lamination where the copper peels off but then it would look like a piece is gone not scratched off.


Should weigh 2.50 grams but this one is 2.37 grams.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / United States
Year: 2007
Mintage: 3,762,400,000
Metal: 97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper
Value: $0.00 this damaged

That is right $0.00 because it can be refused as cash since it is very mutilated plus the exposed zinc will quickly start to react with the moist air and corrode. I will try to keep it in a cool dry place just as a reference coin but I would not be surprised if it goes bad over the summer.


Do you have damaged coins and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Summer of George

Do you have a dollar bill and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Last time I found a Where's George note I kind of went on a rant. To recap it is a site where people stamp notes in order to track them, which I found slightly offensive.

At this point I will not say much but this note I found it typical of Where's George note. Meaning it is fairly
new yet in horrible shape. I do not know if the stampers only doing this to old notes or people tend to manhandle the note more when they try to identify the stamp.

This stamp is says:

LOG ON 

IT IS 

FUN 

& 

FREE 

www.WHERESGEORGE.COM 

With boxes around the series year and serial number. Again I partially blocked the number to keep the game going, yes even though I am not a fan I do not feel like ruining someone's fun.
             

Original page.

The bill was first entered in Illinois back in March of 2008 later that same year it ended up in Vermont then almost two years of travel it ended up here with me, which I will pass on. The bill has traveled about 1,000 miles so far but I doubt it will last another three years.

From the initial user profile here is Blimey's stats:

Bills Entered:	4,222	Hit Rate:	13.48%
Bills with Hits:	569	Total Hits:	684
Days of Inactivity:	0	George Score:	941.87
Wilds Found:	13	Overall Rank:	2,973
State Rank (Illinois)	115	State Percentile :	97.98

This guy is not as obsessed with stamping notes as others on the site.l

Here's the original stats...
Type/Country: 1 Dollar / United States
Year: 2006
Date Printed: June 2007
Printings: 96,000,000
Run: 4th from F19200000C - F25599999C
Value: $1.00 in this shape



Do you have a currency bill and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Here's George?

Do you have a currency note and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

In the past I've been asked about the significance of Where'sGeorge.com stamped notes. Often I reply it's just a fun little game some people play with money, well I'm changing my stance. It is an obsessive habit that defaces money. Sure the bills are generally worth just face value but it is not all about the value.

Other common stamps seen on bills are bank stamps from other countries. These at least have a legitimate purpose, to stop counterfeiting. A few days ago I got my first Where's George bill and when investigating the site I can't help to be disappointed at what I found. What Hank Eskin started as a nice side project for an under worked database consultant has turned into a pandering company.

The object of the game is to use the serial number and series year of the bill to track the bill across the world. The problem is not the game but it has turned into a competition of manic proportions. This bill for instance has spent 1 year, 33 days, 9 hours, and 3 minutes to travel from South Portland, Maine to NYC. Although it looks like it's been around the world twice, while drunk.

The WheresGeorge.com site is free to register but I didn't so I could not contact the original sender "Melody". I would ask her to freely comment if my reaction is justified or not.

Melody's Stats:

Bills Entered:	23,876	Hit Rate:	7.47%
Bills with Hits:	1,784	Total Hits:	1,931
Days of Inactivity:	1	George Score:	1,074.13

Yes you read right and not all bills entered are $1.00. She doesn't even rank among the top that record is for people who submit over 1 million stamped notes. In my life I doubt 100,000 notes passed through my hands let alone 1 million since 1998, the company start date.

Illegal?
Only if used for advertising purpose or to alter the value of the note with the purpose of deception.

The Secret Service ordered WheresGeorge.com to stop selling rubber stamps and they complied but many others still do, legally. Seeing how a profit is still being made at WheresGeorge.com it is possible to prosecute but the Secret Service wisely said they had better stuff to do.

On coins the Secret Service takes it more serious.

The Silver Surfer quarter was a promotion by 20th Century Fox through the Franklin Mint to circulate 40,000 stickered quarters for a chance at prizes. There was a big scandal which lead to no real trouble for either company.

Which made me laugh when I saw the Cici's Pizza commercial last night.

Each Cici's Pizza will be given 2,000 cents and told to drop the stickered cents on the ground and if you pick one up and peel the sticker you may win some free food. http://www.beapennypickerupper.com/ is the site and while the commercial is shown in NY I think the closest Cici's is about 200 miles away.

I don't mind the sticker promotion, illegal or not, because there is no permanent damage unlike the ink stains and extra abuse given stamped bills. I'll end this almost rant by pointing out I did block the serial number and will pass the note on, still I want to contact the original sender if time permits.

Update: The actual commercial.

Do you have a currency bill and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Like Another Hole In Your...

Do you have a Greek coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Again those Canadian cents are trying to get my attention. I found another one yesterday oddly enough in the past month the four I found span four decades, 2006, 1997, 1985, and 1978. Still I will try to ignore them as much as possible.

Coin lots are generally full of junk coins meaning some are excellent but common while some are rare and damaged. For this coin from Greece someone insisted on turning it into a pendant.

While I'm not the biggest fan of 1800s coins I do know something about them. This one in particular is highly sought after in mint states. On average if undamaged and at Mint State 60 it would go for $1,000.00. This is the 1833-A which is rarer than the 1833 that is also hard to come by in high grades.

Look at the coin above you see why overtime they become rare. Some person thought, "Whoa never seen this must be rare let me nail a hole through it and keep it safely around my neck." You can see marks where the coin was held down to drill/nail also it started to warp. This damage drops coin value to nothing unless rare. The question becomes is this one rare enough.

Book value places a fine piece at about $50.00 while auction values hover around $80.00. Nothing compared to the 1845(o) Drachma that in fine condition goes for $1,100. At this point dropping the value by 90% seems appropriate. It is still silver.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Drachma / Greece
Year: 1833 A
Mintage: Not fully known, less than 1,125,000
Metal: Silver
Value: $5.00 in Damaged condition

So should you take that state quarter and turn it into a pendant? What if some future collector finds it and wants to kick you in the head?

Go for it. You can't play the "what if" game. I can only hope you do a little research in case you feel it might be rare but ultimately every damaged coin does raise the value for the rest that still float around.

Do you have a Greek coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Holey Coins Man

Do you have an altered coins and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Years ago I found these two quarters in my change on different days. These "holey" coins were drilled to make jewelry. Notice where the holes are positioned.

These machine drilled coins hold no value for collector, yet people still collect these coins for fun.
Obviously I found them in my change so they were used for face value.

Quarters are most often found drilled because they are big enough to drill and small enough to where like a charm.

Often they are also dipped in a gold coloring to have more appeal.

Be aware that these are altered coins and are perfectly legal to alter and own as long as your not trying to pass it as an original"holed" coin from the mint.

Some alterations I've seen have pictures etched into the coin or state names. I can't wait to find one of those in my change.

Do you have an altered coins and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.