While coin roll hunting, I found a dime with a grey and silver edge, similar to a 40% half dollar. There is no copper color on the edge. Could this be an error?
No, 40% silver dimes never existed. Therefore, it is not possible for a dime to be struck on a 40% dime planchet. Grey and silver edge just means circulation wear.
I don't think so.. Color difference on the edge is most likely Environmental Toning Your 2000 D Dime is a normal Clad over copper.
The coin has barely any wear on it, and it has a different color too. I've seen many old copper clad dimes that have dark toning, but this one has 0 copper color too it, just a dark gray. Any way I can test the coin for silver without damaging it?
It is possible to have discovered the very first 40% silver dime. There are examples of the wrong metal being fed into the coining press. For example, look closely at this nickel below: However, yours is 100% not a 40% silver dime for the following reasons: 1) At the time, 40% silver coins were only made at the San Francisco Mint. Your dime lacks an "S" mintmark. What is the likelyhood that there was 40% coin metal laying around at the San Fran Mint and it was then shipped to other mints, and then mistakenly fed into their dime presses? 2) 40% silver was only made for quarters, halves, and Ike dollars - not dimes. Therefore, your dime being dime thickness rules it out.
It is a 2000 D dime. In 2000 40% silver stock hadn't been used at the mint, any of them, for 24 years. Denver hadn't had any for almost thirty years.
