So I have this friend of a friend that is a cashier and the other day discovered a coin which I believe was supposed to be one of the new nickels. The front is a Jefferson head and the reverse is a Washingtons State quarter design. How can I tell if this is real or fake and any idea on the value if this were real. The person that found this doesn't live close to me so I've only been able to ask questions over the phone and is sending pics. I want to make sure I offer him a fair price but also want to make sure I don't get ripped off.
Hi and welcome to Coin Talk! If you can provide some pictures of the Obverse and Reverse of the coin as well as the weight and diameter, we might be able to make an assessment of the coin. It is more than likely a Post Mint, man made error as Mule errors generally involve a previous struck coin (say Nickel) falling in Striking Chamber while Quarters are being struck and the coin is them struck with the Quarter Dies thus having two sets of details, lettering and images. However, we do ned to see it to try to make sure or not! Frank
Hi and Welcome, It is likely a novelty item that we call a magicians coin. A mule is a coin struck by a mismatched pairs of dies that have been set up that way in a coining pres. It is not a struck coin that has been struck by another set of dies. That's a completely different type of error if and when it occurs. Often, a quarter is hollowed out to fit a nickel into the opening. It is used in slight of hand tricks to make a coin appear to change denominations right before your eyes. On an off chance that it is real which is about 99.9999999% impossible, we would need a picture to give you any idea of what it is. Thanks, Bill
Thanks for the feedback. He said the the reverse side with the Washington quarter detail just barely fit on the coin while the front of the coin with the Jefferson detail had some space around the outter edge. He said it was the size of a quarter but a little thinner and not as heavy as a quater. I figured that is would be highly unlikey that it's real but he is supposed to email me pictures tomorrow and was going to get me the weight of the coin as well. I'll post the pics and info when I get it. Thanks again! JF
This sounds like the machined insert. This piece that your friend has would fit inside the "shell" as it is called. If the shell were by itself, it would be a hollowed out quarter. the piece that he or she has fits inside the hollowed portion. Thanks, Bill
Hi I hope you enjoy your stay here there are some nice people on this site. I would say it's a magic coin. I don;t think it 's a mule ,but pics would be Great Welcome TO Jazzcoins Joe HAVE FUN
