1971 Washington - Foreign Planchet?

Hi All,

Newbie here looking for an opinion. I recently purchased a bag of 90% and ran across this 1971. A local coin shop took a look at it and were puzzled. They first thought it might be struck into a nickel planchet, but it's quite under the 5g weight. He was understaffed and suggested I stop in a different day when his errors guy would be in.

I did some research and am a bit stumped. Possibly a foreign planchet?

Thanks for the look!


Obverse Photo


Reverse Photo


Obverse Scan


Reverse Scan


Fat Edge


Thin Edge


Weight

 

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interesting.

 

So to clarify, which of the edge coins is the one in question? The clad or silver looking one?

 

Good call. The one in question is the silver looking one.

 

@paddyman98 what do you think of this?

 

Hmmm, 3.96 g.

I'm not an expert. Let me ask you this, do you know the look, feel and sound of silver coins?

 

I'm not an expert either, but I'm not aware of a 16-cent silver (which is what 3.96g would be, at 25g per $10 face value).

I was ready to say "PMD -- someone shaved off the edge", but no way. Looking at QUARTER DOLLAR on the reverse, there was definitely something wrong when this thing was struck. And looking at the edge, I don't think it was just an off-spec clad planchet.

 

Well, looks like there is a call out for the big guns. Stby.....

 

That was the first thing I asked the coin dealer, as I though this might be a really worn silver proof or something. No silver proofs for '71, just clad.

The dealer did put the coin in his alloy analyser and said something about nickel and zinc. I didn't include this detail in my post as I didn't see the readings myself nor hear him very clearly.

 

There were instances of metal intended for dime production noted in redbook, but your planchet would have been too heavy for dime, that is what is so interesting. trying to figure out.

 

@Gigantor- Others will chime in here. They'll get to the bottom of it.

 

This is most certainly a nickel-sized planchet, not a dime one. I can tell because of how part of the design is missing. Much more would be missing on a dime-sized planchet. But a nickel planchet is 5 grams, and this is 4.

This does not appear to be altered. I would say either your scale is not calibrated properly or it could be a foreign planchet. Possibly a rolled thin nickel planchet even?

 

I'm with ya on the scale. I tested a few other coins, and it seems to be reading well. It is cheap though

 

Very interesting. I'll be waiting for the experts on this one.

Welcome to CT.

 

I'm also waiting. @mikediamond, @Fred Weinberg, @cpm9ball, @paddyman98, et al. My apologies for not knowing all the error coin experts.

 

I will say no to struck on foreign planchet.
Most likely struck on a stray Nickel Planchet.
Forget going to a coinshop for attribution. I would instead send it in for attribution.

I question the weight though. If it were a true Nickel planchet it wouldn't weigh so little.

I have no definitive answer.

 

In 1971 the US mint struck 25 sentimo coins for the Philippines.
Composition: Copper-Nickel-Zinc
Weight: 4.0000g
Diameter: 21mm
I believe Philly was the mint where they did these.

 

Isnt that a D mint mark on the coin though? I was thinking the same thing but the Liberia 5 cent planchet. Diameter 20 mm composition copper nickel weight 4.1 grams. The Liberia 5 cent coin was struck In Denver from 1960-1975. I'm not really sure on this coin. I suggest OP contacts a local coin club if there is one and get in hand assistants if not this might be worth sending in.

 

I am not sure how many coin clubs have error experts. In Western NY where I am in Buffalo, I am the one person people ask.

 

That is true not all areas have people that are knowledgeable in error's but it is worth a shot. I truly hope this is something for the OP. @Pete Apple have you seen this post yet?