Very new! Confused how to tell incorrect planchet, or just off center?

Can anyone help me understand how to tell if this is an incorrect planchet error, off-center strike, or just completely normal lol =)
They just look SO different to me?

Thank you so much!! I am excited to learn!

 

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Welcome to CT!!

I'm no pro, but I will try to answer best I can. See how much I have learned.

I believe for incorrect planchet you will need to weigh it. It should weigh right around 5.67 grams. If it weighs correctly and is same diameter as other quarters then it is most likely the correct planchet.

Now for the Off Center strikes. In order to tell if it is off center your would need to look at both sides of coin. If only one side looks off center, then it is called a MAD or Miss-Aligned Die error. This can also happen to both sides of same coin. This happens when both sides are off center but in different directions.

If it is a true "OFF Center" strike, both sides of the coin will be stuck off center in same direction.

Hopes this helps ya out a little

The more knowledgeable members will probably chime in and correct/add anything I may have gotten wrong or missed.

 

Thank you very much! I have not read some of those terms yet, I will definitely look them up!
The weighing, suggestions for a scale? (That's actually why I set them aside.. they were lighter than the other quarters I was sorting).

 

Ms. Desporte, Welcome to the community of Coin Talk. We are very glad to have you aboard. There have been a few other ladies coming aboard lately. You all brighten up the day on the forum. Welcome again.

 

Welcome to CT I can't be sure about the quarters but welcome. The community is very kind and knowledgeable here.

 

Welcome to Coin Talk. Here is a link to a site with info.
http://coinauctionshelp.com/page14.html#.WX3TfFVSzIV

 

Thank you all for the welcome

 

Any scale similar to these will work.
http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/products/scales/

Helps if you get one that reads to the 100th (.01) of a gram. Some people, including myself, have dared to go into their local "Head Shops" to pick one up.

 

Oh.. ok I got this lol. I am a cop
I thought that I needed to use a coin-specific scale, this makes it much easier- thank you!!

 

Here is a 1996P Off Center strike Washington Quarter.

Coin was flipped vertically for reverse shot, so the gap you see on top of the obverse becomes the gap you see on the bottom of the reverse. Same with the cut off letters/numbers.

I don't keep the MAD coins I find so hopefully someone has one they can share a photo of to show the difference.