What do you make of this one??? Magnet picks up 1966 half dollar?

A customer approached me with this strange piece last night. It is not magnetic (it worn pick up anything) but it is attracted to a magnet... anyone got and ideas? I was thinking that it might have been clad over some other metal??? anyone else?

 

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Apparently you see no evidence of someone messing with the coin? If so, I would have to guess something got into the planchet during the manufacture. Maybe some of the experts can give you another idea.

 

It could be possible that the coin was bathed in some electron ion substance that made it somewhat magnetic - I have heard of people doing this with cents.

 

I gave the coin a good looking over with a glass and I don't see anything funky... I don't think it is plated with anything, because I can still see the clad layer on the side of the piece... It does not attract anything... but itself is attracted...

 

Wow that is odd!!

 

That's very interesting. Are you sure you didn't stick it on there with a piece of gum? Just kidding...

That does look like one powerful magnet, though. What does the coin weigh? Maybe that might provide a clue.

 

Yes -- the weight would go a long way toward an answer.

 

The coin weighs 11.35 grams. which is normal weight

 

Lost Dutchman,

Where did you get the magnet? If it will pick up Silver and Gold, I really have to get one. With one or two them, why would I want to run my Highbanker/Dredge and kill my back!


Frank

 

I guess I'll have to send it off to find out for sure...

I will keep you guys posted...

 

LostDutchman,
Can you tell if there is one area of the coin that is magnetic or is the entire coin equally magnetic?

 

It sounds like you got a good magicians coin.

 

Look for the seam on the reverse just next to the rim.

I'm guessing it was hollowed out and there's a piece of steel or nickel inside. You might even be able to map it with a small magnet.

 

Is it strongly magnetic - does it jump to the magnet when it comes near - or weakly magnetic - is it just barely hanging onto the magnet?

Since it should be silver and copper and these metals aren't magnetic, the only explanation is that some ferrous metal somehow got infused into the core, or possibly the outer cladding. Maybe a smaller magnet placed against various parts of the coin would tell you something.

You could attach a steel rod or screwdriver to the magnet and then touch the rod against the coin at different places, including the edge, to see if there is a localized area of attraction. That would help determine if there is an impurity in the coin.

 

There is not one area more or less attracted then any other... I thought about one of the coins with a magnet put in it for a magician to use... I just don't know... never quite seen anything like it..

 

That's how they make them. Either a very small hole is driiled and filled with a pin. Or they have a small steel core

 

here's some.........

http://www.daytonamagic.com/Coin Magic/COIN16.htm

 

If they put something in this coin I have absolutely no idea how they did it... there is no seam on either side... the edge reeding is intact and I cant find any defects with a 10x loupe on either side or the edge...

Im not saying that I don't think something has happened to this coin... I just don't see it...