Wisconsin Error??

I'm not a collector, but I do ocassionally buy old coins for my kids and grandchildren. Ran across this when purchasing coins for my wife's state quater book. The "W" is missing and there are scratches aross the low areas but not the high areas. It came out of a new roll so it couldn't have happened in circulation. Could someone tell me what I have?

Thanks.

 

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It looks like something happened to the Planchet (blank coin) before it was struck....

I don't know because it seems like something on the cow's head would be messed up too...

Mike stops by here every-now-and-then and he would be the one to know...maybe he'll be here soon!

Speedy

 

planchet lamination error? whatever it is, it happened before the coin was struck

 

I thought about that but I would think it would hurt the area where the cows head is...at least more than it is...I see the ear looks funny.

Speedy

 

At first glance it appears to be a strike-through error. However, since the irregular surface is largely restricted to the field and generally respects the boundaries of the design, it's more likely to be a case of severe die damage. I have seen other cases of die damage with a similar appearance. A final determination would require an examination under a hand lens or microscope.

 

I've never had to do this before, so how or where would I go to get this coin examined? Is something like this a rare incident?

 

You can take it to a Coin Dealer in your area....but I'm guessing this type of damage doesn't add any value.

If I'm wrong Mike can tell you.

Speedy

 

That kind of damage doesn't add value? I don't know very much but I would think it would.

BidCoin.com

 

Well I would think that if a coin is damaged it wouldn't raise the value....

Take a old silver dollar...make a hole in it...its damaged...it makes the value lower...not higher...

Now I don't know much about errors and such but it only make "cents" that it would lower the value.

Speedy

 

LOL! I love puns!

BidCoin.com

 

I'd be happy to check it out for you. My e-mail address is mdia1@aol.com.

If this IS die damage, as I strongly suspect, then the coin would certainly have substantial value. Without being hyped and without a nickname, I'd say it would bring at least $75 on eBay. Naturally, clever marketing can create increased demand.

 

Just goes to prove...that I'm wrong...I learn something everyday...

So Mike--why does damage raies the value?

Speedy

 

Speedy - why wouldn't damage raise the value - among the right people? I know a guy who is trying to collect all the holed coins he can, and he's willing to pay good money for key date coins that are holed. He bought a good three-cent piece with a clean hole through it from some guy one time.

Damage only lowers the value among SOME collectors. Others enjoy collecting damaged coins. Isn't the "die gouge" on the Wisconsin Quarters that looks like an extra leaf "damage" to the original face of the coin? And yet aren't some people paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars for them?

All I'm saying is, don't discount a coin's value because it isn't perfect - there are some people out there who would love to have it.

~AJ

 

Well that is one reason I don't collect damaged coins...I see no point.

It's like going to the store and buying a damaged gallon of milk...I don't know anyone that would do that and I see no "cents" in buying damaged coins.

Speedy

 

Extensive damage to a die is rare, and, since it also causes a dramatic change in a coin's appearance, will appeal to error collectors of many stripes. The "extra leaf" Wisconsin quarters are a case in point. Both represent die damage -- either die gouges or semicircular die dents -- that was inflicted after hubbing was completed and possibly after the dies were installed. Their depth, clarity, and fanciful resemblance to leaves, all combined to make them unusually popular. Tremendous hype also helped.

Finefin's quarter shows an even more dramatic example of die damage, but one that will not even approach the value of the extra leaf quarters. The damage is irregular, which has less appeal for collectors. The marketplace is perverse in its preferences. Also, there's the hype factor. Before they were publicized, the extra leaf quarters were selling on eBay for less than $50 a pop.

 

Thanks for the info Mike...its hard for me to understand how this would raise the value but I'm working on it ;--)

Who knows...maybe someday I'll be trying to find one of these!

Speedy

 

The coin is not damaged. The die is damaged.

With regard to actual damage to a coin or planchet, I agree that post-strike damage seldom enhances its value. But pre-strike damage, or damage associated with the strike, greatly enhances a coin's value

 

Right...I don't see the reason for "damaged" coins to be so high valued...its like this...do you run out a buy a car just because when they were making it they left off the back wheel and the dashboard and the back door?....and you sure don't go offer to pay 5 times what they are asking--

But then I'm a little mixed up at times

Speedy

 

Mike/Speedy, Thanks a lot. I'll take your advice and search out a local coin dealer that specializes in "error coins". As far as seling the coin, I think I'll keep my "ISCONSIN" quarter. You can keep your leaf error coins. I see a lot of those advertized, but I may have the only "ISCONSIN" quarter out there. Thanks again.