I found this 1972-D Eisenhower dollar at a Charlotte NC coins show a while back and bought it because it just didn’t look quite right to me. There is a lot of silver coloration in the edge of this planchet and a small copper core. I weighed the coin on my home postal scale and it came up within normal limits at 23 grams. The edge looks to contain an amount of silver (coloration), more than ½ to almost ¾ in some places and the coin itself does not have that silver luster-type appearance that Ikes struck in silver possess. From all appearances, it is a copper nickel clad business strike, but the edge has me intrigued. Any thoughts or information would be appreciated as I am stumped as to why this coin has so much silver coloration to its edging. I don’t think it to be a counterfeit, but I don't know if this is just a variance in the planchet or if it is a metals trial (gosh I wish!) that was not meant for circulation.
What you are seeing is probably the result of the planchet-making process. The planchets (coin blanks) are punched from a large sheet and sometimes metal gets dragged along as the punch goes through. The planchet for you coin was punched from the side that is silver.
Edge is not unusual, typical "smearing" of the metal as the punch forces through the strip. The weight of 23 grams is a little over spec but well within the tolerance range.
I have to agree!! Clad coin til 1982-1990 large sheet planchet were cut from had no standard ,yet today. Wonder if mint recalls there standard .
Do you think it worth getting graded? I don't know if this is considered a variety or error or anything.
