I'm wondering whether or not everyone thinks this is real or counterfeit...based soley on the circumstances. I received a 2003 (P) Arkansas quarter with my change at a McDonalds in upstate New York while on the way back from a ski trip on January 19th, 2004. Now the quarter seemed to be in great condition when I got it, extremely new and shiny, but has become more tarnished since then. My reasons for thinking it is real: I found it < 3 months after release date (Oct 20th, 2003) It is noticeably thinner/lighter than a normal quarter I found it in circulation, so I wasn't buying it off a potential counterfeiter So my rationale is that one would be hard pressed to find an Arkansas quarter, reproduce the clad layer missing error, then sell it to a collector who finds out it's fake and puts it back in circulation where I find it in near mint condition at McDonalds (unless someone fakes the error and just uses it as a regular quarter...but why would they do that?). I always assumed it was real and the McDonalds just got it straight from the mint Anyways, I sent it off to ANACS for verification/grading, and it should be back in a few days. I'm asking here to kind of aleviate my fears after reading this article. http://www.coinresource.com/articles/state_quarter_missing_clad.htm Sorry I don't have any pictures with me, they're on my computer back at home and I can't take any more until the quarter makes it back. What should I be expecting though? For the coin to be legitimate or faked?
There isn't enough information to go on that this coin could be considered counterfeit. The more sane explanation is that it is an entirely regular coin encountered in everyday commerce...do you want to start a whole spy novel? Good Luck with your coins sir, I hope that you find a true Diamond!
As always....the pictures will tell more, but that aside, to me, it sounds like you've answered your own question already. Even if your coin is a fake, a knowledgable collector isn't likely to put it into circulation, that would be just as bad as forging and spending it in the first place. At any rate, I recommend investing (a buck or 2 at your local coin shop) in an air-tight coin holder to put your quarter into to protect it until you know more. If it is a real missing clad error, and is still in great shape, you'll be glad you protected it.
http://img94.exs.cx/img94/4736/picture0303dl.jpg http://img94.exs.cx/img94/7605/picture0316gc.jpg http://img94.exs.cx/img94/3903/picture0324aq.jpg It's real! Just got it back from ANACS today, sorry I can't load pictures through the site (they're too big)
Well, as I'm not really a coin collector I thought I'd just put it up for sale on eBay without a reserve or anything. Is this a pretty safe bet or are there better ways to go about it?
Unless you have an account at ebay with a good feedback rating before you try to sell it - you likely won't do well. You may be better off having an established ebay seller sell it for you.
I'll probably go through my roomates account. He isn't a power seller or anything, but he's probably bought/sold aboutg 20 times with all good feedback. Is that enough to help alleviate problems?
It may be, but it would certainly do better with someone who sells coin regularly and has over 100 postives and 0 negs.
Thanks for all the congrats guys! Does anybody know how many of these have been found/sold so far? I've searched eBay and a few online dealers and haven't managed to find an Arkansas quarter with this error. I doubt I'm lucky enough to find the only one thus far, but where are all the other ones?
Ask ANACS, if there are more, well then there are. But if there are not - I think ANACS will slab it for you as the discovery coin - with your name on it.
Well I just put the coin up on eBay tonight. I don't know the rules on posting links to auctions and stuff, so I won't do it. Three hours into it and the bids are already coming in. Not bad for a coin found in circulation by a guy who doesn't even collect coins.
You sure about that - not collecting coins I mean ?? It's just this kinda thing often gets people hooked on this hobby
