I have a 1980 P Washington Quarter that is rainbow toned and what looks like a clamshell split planchet error? Would there be any value to this kind of error coin? Any help would be appreciated.Thanks in advance.
You might do better posting some pics in the "error" section of the forums Cassy. You'll arouse the conscious level of many experts in them parts. But as for these parts? Welcome to the forum.......
Hi Cassy, I am no expert but I believe what you have is a clad coin that was soaked in acid. Copper is more reactive than nickel when exposed to an acidic solution and will wear away quicker, leaving the rim of the coin looking worn down in the middle like your pictures show. The acid bath would also cause discoloration on the surfaces when the coin was removed and allowed to air dry. A "clam shell" is a lamination error where the planchet is formed from metal rolled with a trapped gas layer or other subsurface defect that breaks though to the surface during the coining operation. This would really look like a clam shell with definite separation of layers. Hope I didn't confuse you and welcome to CT. Joe
Hi Cassy! and welcome to the forum. I deleted your other thread that asked the same question/subject, but since you were given some "questionable advice", I don't blame you. Once you start a thread in the wrong subforum, click on the triangle icon in the line beneath your post to report to a mod to change it to the better sub-forum. Thanks and welcome again. Jim