I don't collect Susan B's, but I use them and other dollar coins when I go to Renaissance Faires and such (helps to lend a period atmosphere). Anyway, yesterday I happened to be looking at my small pile of them when I noticed something very strange. There was a 1979 Susan B., but it was a brassy color, like a Sac dollar. I inspected it more closely, and discovered that a) it actually wasn't exactly the same color as a Sac dollar, but more 'coppery' than 'brassy', and b) the edge coloring was the reverse of the other Susan B's I had--that is, the silvery stripe was in the middle, between two coppery stripes, rather than the other way around. Is it possible that I have a 'mis-clad' coin? That is, the metals got reversed somehow? And if so...it is worth anything?
WE need pics to determine what you have. I t think you may have a missing clad layer it would have a copper apearance.Please try and post a pic i will help you? . JC
It's possible that it's missing its clad layer...it could also be plated in something. Pics are the first step.
Not a problem. I didn't have access to my camera last night, but I do now, so here are some pix. The bottom is a comparison of the coin in question to a Sac dollar and a normal Susan B. Please note that the coin in question isn't really that different in color from the Sac dollar, but I couldn't get the flash to illuminate both of them equally, for some reason. The top is a comparison of the edges of the coin in question with the normal Susan B. You can see the reversal of the metal colors.
I think the color is just toning or discoloration. As for the "reversal of colors", when the blanks a punched from the strip the action of the punch tnds to "smear the metal on the edge of the blank. so the bottom coppernickel layer looks thick as does the copper layer and the top copper nickel layer looks very thin. What you have is simply one coin where the bottom layer was toward the rev die and on the other the bottom layer was toward the obv die. Info tidbit. The hole in the strip will show the same smear pattern but in the opposite direction, top layer smeared downward. Soif the punch overlaps a hole and punches out an incomplete planchet, the smear pattern on the edge of the blank of coin after striking will show smear in one direction and in the other direction in the "clipped" portion. This reversal of direction can be used to help authenticate "clipped planchet" clad coins.
Can't exactly help you there... BUT I know a way that will potentially harm the coin! You need Dellar's Darkener and just apply it too the coin and if it changes the color then it is missing a clad layer, if it doesn't, then it is just toning. Keep in mind that if it is indeed missing a layer, YOU JUST RUINED THE COIN!!!:high5: P.S. Please note the sarcasm
If it is thinner and weighs less than a normal Susan B (8.1 grams) it would be an unclad planchet error. From the looks of your photo that might not be the case.
Chemical reaction between the metal and the atmosphere. "Toning" is simply a euphemism for "tarnishing" which the user of the word doesn't find offensive. I never use that term myself. Sure, if severely damaging the value of the coin doesn't bother you, just (Good) Boil it in an aluminum pan with baking soda dissolved in the water, or (Also good) Boil it in a steel or enameled pan lined with aluminum foil, or (Better) Use a high quality silver polish and rub the bejeebers out of it, or (Best) Go over the surface using a high speed drill motor equipped with a wire brush (aka "whiz" it).
The weight is critical. A friendly pharmacist might weigh it for you in grams. In the picture above where you compare the two coin's edges, if the coin in question is on the right, there may be an issue with a layer being missing. My first instinct though based upon the color is toning but determining the weight of the coin is really the next best step. Thanks, Bill
Don't do anything to that coin, it has been known that some Susan Bs have been struck on Sacs planchets.........
You can still see the line from the side shot where the two metals are and its not quite the color of the sac dollar and its a 1979 so I doubt it was struck on a sac planchet.
