2006D Steel Colorado State Quarter

They don't slab fake or altered coins (NCS slabs altered coins, though).

 

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Well that,s weird and interesting at the same time!

 

Actually yes. a lot of work is sometimes done to produce a "Magician's Coin". Some tricks sell for substantial amounts, so it is cost effective. Even at $26, it seems to be profitabe. I just wonder how someone lost it ?

 

Forgot they had it in their pocket and spent it, or a kid found it in dads jacket pocket and wanted a peice of candy or soda, and spent it? Many many possiablities, but it would be an interesting story if thats what this coin is...

 

On further investigation, I'm fairly confidant Jon4485 is correct. It is a Magician's coin.

I feel like my niece who excitedly posted a "look what I got in my change" on her facebook wall with a very nice picture of a 1955 wheat cent in G4-VG8 condition and asked about it's value... which is about $0.02 in copper, $0.01 as currency and unsaleable for its numismatic value, but too cool not to put in a "cool coins" jar and keep.

I remembered the weight of a quarter incorrectly. I am a nickel collector, so 5 grams is firmly in my head... and didn't actually double-check.

A normal State Quarter weighs about 5.6 grams.

I found that better quality trick coin makers actually core the coins and replace the copper layer with a copper-edged steel blank so the "closest inspection" can't find the difference.

So, my quarter's actual sale value when new is about $15.00 (not bad for a State Quarter).

Here is a site that shows a lot of cool trick coins like the one I got in pocket change:

http://www.abbottmagic.com/US-Trick-Coins_c47.htm

 

The magic quarters are why i asked it it was strongly magnetic all over or just in one area. One way they used to make them was to drill into the edge and then insert the magnet or a steel cylinder in at the edge. The coin could be easily picked up by a magnet but the attraction would be most at one edge or point on the coin. A weak attraction all over can be obtained by a heavy nickel plating but it would most likely cover the copper edge.

After taking another look at the pictures it loots like there is a seam all the way around on the reverse just inside the rim. It looks like they used the same technique they use to make two headed coins. Hholling out one side to form a "cup" and then cutting down a second coin to fit into the cup. in this case you shave it down a little thinned an include a layer of steel or a magnet as a center layer.