Error coins or science experiments...?

Discussion in 'Error Coins' started by MommaHenn, May 17, 2019.

  1. MommaHenn

    MommaHenn Active Member

    49346375-9DF0-405F-92AC-B25AD8C16298.jpeg 250EBFFE-EE08-44D5-A328-F9F997D62763.jpeg 9CF12D86-B59C-46B7-A0BA-22932A7E129C.jpeg C59CA21E-D9EA-4831-9456-E217B7CFCFFA.jpeg AA6F110E-91FB-4903-8791-C88E1FF4534B.jpeg A4032549-2487-44A1-8096-626EB7D96BF0.jpeg 904F666D-DA2D-40A6-9B9F-C35329407661.jpeg BF685894-0D5B-461A-AAE8-E10FCEDF1B17.jpeg Good evening! In going thru my bucket of quarters, I’ve come across two that I’m not sure what to think. Are either of them a genuine error coin or the unfortunate result of a science experiment...? The first one is a 2010P Obverse ATB WYOMING. The G in God looks as if it is attached to the back of Washington’s wig. Plus, the LL in DOLLAR is kind of wonky. The second one is a 1995D Washington; the Obverse has some green corrosion in the lower left quadrant which makes that area look as if someone precisely chiseled the area out. Thank you very much!
     
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  3. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    Errors happen at the mint.
    This damage occurred after. 25 cents each.
    IDK but perhaps the Yellowstone was buried in sand for a few years and recovered.
    The other coin, that green crud might come off with acetone or something else,
    but it's not worth the time or money. Soap and water and a paper towel might take it off. There's nothing unique about these coins. There are billions of coins and all kinds of crazy junk happens to them all the time.
     
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  4. MommaHenn

    MommaHenn Active Member

    Thank you. The Yellowstone was just too weird for this newbie to even begin to try and figure out.
     
  5. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    People do all kinds of things to coins. They drop them in acid.
    And then, sometimes they just lose them, and when you dig them up out of the
    sand or mud, they have reacted to sun, sand, water, soil, chemicals, gases, pollution
    etc. and they can change into all kinds of weird looking things.
    When you have looked at millions of coins, this kind of thing is not unusual.
    I'm not saying that Yellowstone definitely was in the sand, but that is one of the possibilities.
     
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  6. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

  7. MommaHenn

    MommaHenn Active Member

    Thank you
     
  8. MommaHenn

    MommaHenn Active Member

    Stupid question...I’m familiar with acetone as I am a former Nail Tech (fake nails) and I’ve used acetone when working on my DIY wood projects and such, so how does acetone not hurt coins? Is it because it is fast drying? Chemistry was not my thing in HS. Thx !
     
  9. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

    I'm not a chemist, but basically, acetone only dissolves organic material. This has something to do with bonds and its ability to break them. Pure acetone (not nail polish remover) should not harm any copper, silver or gold coin. However, coins with much more reactive metals like zinc should be avoided!
     
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  10. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    What Seattlite said. Ideally acetone works well on silver coins by removing crud
    without any chemicals/ acid/ or wiping.
    Some people say not to use them on copper coins, and some say its fine.
    The acetone will not "clean" a coin. And it won't do anything for that 1st coin.
    But the second coin, that green crud could dissolve (and then lightly rinse with distilled water) but in this case that's not a rare, old, or valuable coin, so tap water is fine.
    The acetone works because it does not scrape off a thin layer of metal from the coin.
    When people clean coins harshly, with solvents and polishing, the coins can get "shiny" but that is because a thin layer of metal has been removed and the coin is now permanently damaged. Acetone leaves that layer of metal intact. Sometimes
    the coin will be "cleaner" and sometimes it won't. Depending what's on the coin.
     
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  11. MommaHenn

    MommaHenn Active Member

    Y’all are so very helpful here on CT...not to mention patient! Thank you!
     
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  12. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Stick around and you'll be surprised how much you can learn. Be it through sound advice, our complaints or good old joking around, you can learn a lot. :)
     
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  13. NAVY CHIEF

    NAVY CHIEF Active Member

    1947 S coin was housed in "No 377f Wayte Raymond Inc. Made in U.S.A. Pat. No. 1,719,962" album. The staples in the album page were corroded. What caused the degradation of the coin surface?
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. R_rabbit

    R_rabbit Well-Known Member

    :)
    Why do you get barnacles on your boat?
    Wouldn’t it be the environment .
     
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  15. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor

    In beginning chemistry 'chemical bonds' is taught as if all are the same. Then as one goes to the next level, they are taught as ionic and covalent, and then metallic is added and later along further, crystalline and molecular bonding (ice and water simplest). And that is as far as most college degree chemistry goes, but it gets really crazy when quantum effects are involved, but I digress.

    The green stuff won't dissolve in acetone as it is metallic, a nickel oxide or group of similar compounds.

    Acetone can not hurt coins as coins are metallic unless you use light levels of water vapor, radiation, and heat with the acetone, and then you might ( 1 chemistry paper claims they did) get a damage reaction, but as uncommon as an authentic silver Lincoln validated by PCGS.

    All chemicals cost money, so balance the value of the coin with the expense of removing 'stuff' as the a common coin is usually not worth it. IMO, Jim
     
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  16. MommaHenn

    MommaHenn Active Member

    NavyChief...I’d have to say moisture. If you housed the coin in the album, were/was AD around a port/military installation, it’s probably due to the saltwater around in the air.
     
  17. MommaHenn

    MommaHenn Active Member

    Aren’t barnacles formed in the same fashion as a pearl...?? Pearls start as a grain of sand and build over time...
     
  18. MommaHenn

    MommaHenn Active Member

    I’ve also read that improperly mixed metals can form little pockets/bubbles that “explode” over time...possibility on the 1995 above?
     
  19. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    No, not at all. They are a unique living organism.

    Barnacles feed through feather-like appendages called cirri. ... Barnacles secrete hard calcium plates that completely encase them. A white cone made up of six calcium plates forms a circle around the crustacean. Four more plates form a "door" that the barnacle can open or close, depending on the tide.

    They attach themselves by creating their own natural glue which is extremely strong. Scientists are still trying to figure a way this natural glue can be used commercially. It can support 22 pounds per square inch.

    When attached to a boats hull they can drag the boat down and cause up to 40% more fuel consumption.
     
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  20. MommaHenn

    MommaHenn Active Member

    Thank you! I’m feeling a little smarter now!
     
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  21. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    You're more than welcome. :)
     
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