I’ve never collected coins so forgive my lack of knowledge here. I’ve been reading a bit on here and you guys have a ton of useful knowledge! I was sorting out a bunch of old change and found this fella that seemed off. It’s a 65 quarter that sounds like silver but has the copper on the side. I don’t have scales, but tried the seesaw. It’s lighter than a clad quarter (5.67) and just barely heavier than a nickel (5). I had a jeweler see what he thought of it and he said it sounded like silver, not like any of the other clad coins he checked either. He figured it couldn’t be silver either though bc of the copper but suggested I hold onto it. I understand in its shape it probably wouldn’t be of value anyway, but I like it and I’m super curious. Any thoughts on what it could be to be so different? Any chance of other metals attempted in the transition? Any chance a quarter could have been stamped on a half dollar planchet bc they were made of silver/copper clad that year? (Is that even possible it those machines?) I understand silver would be heavier, but I feel like a considerable amount of whatever metal it is must be missing. The edges are pretty much flat if that matters also. Thanks in advance for your opinions!!!
The Cupro-Nickel Clad layer is corroded a bit. It's a normal clad quarter with copper core. Sound test means absolutely nothing IMHO
Ok thanks. Just saw other comments about the sound of silver also, so we compared. It’s just the oddest thing. I was separating thousands of them and this one is just unlike any of others. Appreciate your answer!
Welcome to Coin Talk. It's not possible to have been struck on a half dollar planchet as the planchet is too big to fit in the smaller striking chamber used for quarters.
The edge picture suggests what happened here. Note the reeding is strong and clear, but only on the copper layer. It is weak to non-existent on the clad layers. This was an acid soaked quarter. The acid ate away at the copper reducing its diameter, but retaining the reeding pattern. Then the coin circulate and probably passed through a LOT of vending machines. This has worn away the reeding on the clad layers but the reeding on the copper was protected by the overhanging clad layers. The clad layers have now been worn or beaten down to nearly the same level as the copper, but I think the copper is still recessed a little. The reduction by the acid also results in the odd sound.
