Hello everyone, I have been a long time viewer but finally decided to sign up as I have a coin I am not able to find any information about. I found a John Adams 2007 presidential coin that is thinner, lighter, and sounds hollow when tapped. It also has a slightly different edge than a standard coin. I do not have a scale that is more accurate than .1 oz but the weight of a standard John Adams coin (on my scale) is .3 oz, and the one I found is .2 oz. I thought it was a wrong planchet strike but the coloring and diameter is the same as a standard coin. My only other thought is the copper core was somehow left out of the coin. Does anyone have any knowledge on this issue or any other example? Thank you.
Weigh it - the reverse manganese layer might be missing, based on your photos. (not sure why it would ring 'hollow' though) If so, it's a nice find .
I did consider it was a fake but the lettering on the side matches standard size coins. I also can't imagine someone taking the time to forge a fake $1.00 coin, but it is possible. It is definitely not worn down, I have come across many worn down coins and it still weighs and feels different.
LOL, not at all, I went down those same roads and you are probably right on the fake side, but I truly want it to be an uncommon mistake. I'm hoping my wanting will make it so.
It kinda looks like all the "inside" material of the coin wasn't present when the coin was striked. This might explain the "hollow" sound. You can also see the height difference from the rim and the coin.
That was my thought as well bu I did not even know that was possible in the striking process. Is that a common error?
Hollow might be the wrong word, but it is a very different sound than the standard coin. Lighter might be a better word. I will need to get a better scale to get a more accurate weight then .1oz less.
You need a scale that weighs in grams to at least 2 decimal places. Personally I think rolled thin planchet and you will find it is underweight. Tolerance goes down to 7.8 grams.
I have one on order that will be delivered this weekend, I will weigh the coin and follow up Thank you.
I'm in the camp of missing clad layer Reverse. Although, The lighting doesn't show the color difference that much, there seems to be a noticibly more "red" tinge to the reverse. It should weigh 8.1 grams if it's intact. I'm seeing that, if the clad layer on one side is missing, it's should weigh about 6.0 grams. Weight isn't a guarantee though because the bonding process happens before rolling it to thickness, and if the sheet is missing a section of cladding before it's rolled out , it will be close to similar weight and of proper thickness. let's say the sheet wasn't lined up right and missing cladding on the tail portion, and nobody notices, puts it through the rollers to get it to spec thickness, it will still be close to the proper weight also. If the cladding falls off after the strike or unbonds, the design would be blurry/mushy. And if it comes off after it's been rolled out, but before it was struck, it will be lighter, deformed around the edge,rim, much like i'm seeing here. Weight in grams should tell you what you have. and if it's missing roughly 2 grams of cladding, it will sound different than ones that aren't missing it.
Use a scale with grams and at least tenths of a gram. .3 and .2 of an ounce on a scale that rounds off is meaningless. It's not missing a clad layer, and sound is not a precise indicator. I would guess that the lighter coin is still fine even if it comes in a couple of tenths light, post the new weights from an accurate scale. I doubt it's a fake coin. It looks fine.
