In my recent roll-hunting of dollars (see post in CRH dated 10/23), I came up with two interesting anomalies. One was a P-mint U.S.Grant that was mirror-shiny white - no color as opposed to a normal-shiny uncirculated gold-colored dollar. I am assuming this is plated unless someone can argue that it might be legit, in which case I will post a picture. I don't think any silvers were minted at Philly. From the same source I got a P-mint Teddy Roosevelt with that was mirror-shiny gold. Again, not the same shiny as an uncirculated dollar (I got many samples of those), so I'm thinking it too might be plated. Difficult to get a good picture so several side-by-sides below, since I also got a slightly circulated, fairly shiny P-mint Roosevelt that looks legit (shown on the right in the pics).
Please don't buy anything from these people, I'm not exactly cool with their business model, and I'm not advertising for them, but for reference: https://www.merrickmint.com/presidential-1-coin-products/24k-gold-plated.html their whole gimmick is plating, colorizing, or hologramming coins and selling for a markup, and they aren't the only ones that do it.
IMO, it’s outfits like this that detract from image of numismatics as a whole. Individuals see “24 KARAT GOLD” and unknowingly think that the few milligrams of gold plating there will be worth a whole lot more than the $20 + shipping that they paid for 4 gold-plated $1 USD coins. Then they’re disappointed when their LCS “only” offers face value for the coin, even years later. These trinkets ought to come with a warning box on them similar to a pack of cigarettes. However, on the the other hand, I’m glad that we (in the US, anyway) don’t live under a government that would mandate such a thing.
at one time we found out how much .. or little gold plating was added. Inconsequential and it would take far too much effort and cost to extract it even at current gold prices.
Thanks for the verification of my suspicions. As explained in my original post in CRH, I did not buy these two individual plated coins. They came in rolls with 578 of their legit brothers and sisters. I think they were bought by the person that collected all 580 of them (there were lots of legit collectables too). Someone cashed in all the rolls for face value at my CU. I will put the plated ones in my "Anomalies" section.