Copper Dime Found

I found this 1973 D Copper Dime yesterday. When I did a google search I found that someone else also found the exact coin and posted about it a few years ago. I’m therefore inclined to believe this was mint error. Thoughts anyone?

 

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Not a mint error. Environmental damage.

 

I'm thinking environmental damage.

 

I find dimes like that all of the time metal detecting. I don't think this is a copper dime.

 

I think the nickel clad step was missed somehow at the mint. Look at the difference in thickness. Only the copper is there. Someone else found the exact same 1973D like this a few years ago so I strongly believe mint error.

 

who found it?
was it slabbed /certified ?
link ?

 

metal detecting find, I get them all the time.

technical term?

Spare change

 

The one on the right has a top layer of 75% copper. The one on the LEFT has a top layer of ...
...
...
75% copper.

 

You can weigh it. If it is ULTRA light, it's missing BOTH clad layers.
Generally only 1 clad layer will be missing. I can see areas of clad/ nickel silver through the oxidation on your coin.
Environmental damage. I have over 3000 dimes in my garage from metal detecting, and probably a couple hundred like this.
The copper would be much more copper colored and flat.
Yours is way too shiny. Weigh it is a good first test. Clad dimes weigh 2.27 grams.
If it were missing both clad layers, prob be very light, 1 something.

 

The composition should be 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. This coin is 100% copper.

 

No, the outer layers are 75% copper and 25% nickel. Trust me on this. Please? So is yours. Again, trust me, I know. That’s three arguments from OP. I’m done.

 

Would love to see some of your dimes like this. Can you post some photos?

 

Ok I trust you. I'm just talking the overall composition not outer layers.
https://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/1621/dimes/roosevelt/1973-D/

 

can you show the XRF analysis screen for confirmation ?

 

Tim?
Is that you?

 

For those who didn’t read the thread in General Discussion, this TYPE of thread is, according to Doug, the number one reason experienced collectors leave CoinTalk.

 

I'd have to say environmental damage as well. You can't tell composition based on appearance. Looking like it's pure copper isn't diagnostic.

Having said that, if you believe that strongly that it's a mint error despite the expert opinions that have been offered to you here, I encourage you to submit it to either PCGS or NGC for error attribution.

 

The weight of a normal 1973 D Roosevelt Dime should be 2.27g according to this:
https://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/1621/dimes/roosevelt/1973-D/

Nickel weighs almost the same as copper, just slightly less. A cubic foot of copper weighs 559.87 pounds, where as a cubic foot of nickel weighs 555.72 pounds.
http://www.coyotesteel.com/assets/img/PDFs/weightspercubicfoot.pdf

Since the total composition is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel, if the entire nickel composition only is missing, the weight of this dime should be:

2.27 - (2.27 x (555.72/559.87) x (.0833)) = 2.0823 grams

 

Not going to challenge your math, this dime is certified as missing 1 clad layer and it weighs 1.85g. So if your dime weighs significantly more than 1.5, you have a dime. Also notice your dime doesn't look like this real missing clad.

 

Just say no