I have a 2002 with an extra d mint stamp under the last 2.. how do I tell if its during or after mint stamp...
I believe that to be a plating blister. The zinc under the copper layer is corroded/ing, causing this. Very, very normal for these. Unfortunately.
Can I ask you what you took that picture with? I've tried taking pictures, but they don't look good. Probably 2 things, not a good camera and I suck at taking pictures. I use a scanner, but get some good results on some coins, but others don't look like the coin I'm scanning. Any tips would be appreciated.
Since the area in question looks to be very slightly raised above the field behind it, I would go with plating blister/zinc rot. If it were a mere stain it seems that it would be much closer to the same level as the field around it, unless....sumbody got sum o' sumpin' on it.
I've tried wiping it off and it wont go away.. I'm new to this and I work at a gas station so my down time consists of going through change.. is there anything I should be looking for
Andrew - I suggest investing in an inexpensive loop to keep in your pocket for looking up close at subject coins. Which ones? It depends on you. You should be looking for the usual suspects: old coins, silver coinage, and old currency. But if you need to pass some time, you could get into variety hunting where you can examine just about any coin in the till to see if there's something of merit there. Create a list to aid your hunting. Good luck!!
Andrew, the very best investment you can make concerning coins is the newest edition of The Red Book, the 2nd best is a loupe as mentioned by Kevin, above. The Red Book will get you started on what to look for and the loupe will help you find it. There is more information available in that one book than any of us could teach you in a year of classroom instruction. After you've apprenticed with the basics, you will begin to look into the varieties and errors that are out there. Once you've become a journeyman in coins, you will find a particular type or series that you really enjoy. You may even Master that type or series. After that you could reach out to earn a "Doctorate" in "Coinology" and become a Numismatician. Andrew, I've just described a very long journey but it's a journey that you can complete, just as others have. The important thing is that, however far you travel along the Road of Coins, you should have fun and enjoy yourself Get that book and that loupe, and Get Started !!
I, too, began my coin journey working at my family’s service station. Searching coins at 10. Had my legit working papers the day I turned 14. Here’s my grandparents and uncle from before WW II.
Thank you both for any and all help you have given me.. I look at so much change and pick out the ones I want to look at further and thanks to you I can now get the tools to further and better my search...
