COIN Help U Community

mhonzell

While it is easy to remove the zinc from a penny, it is a little more difficult to remove the copper. But, a chemical process is out there, it's easy, and it's cheap... but very dangerous to the one performing the task. A little Calcium Hydroxide, Sulfur and water mixed and heated to boil. Drop in t...

mhonzell

Just an update...
It's about six months later and look how the top one has shaped up.
Maybe I should send it in to stop the process.

(click on photo)

mhonzell

I'll be the first person to admit that I have not seen all that is out there, but I'm not sure this is an actual coin. Both devices are rather crude. The text imitates Greek, but doesn't follow straight lines as it typically did on Greek coins. And, the letters just don't quite make out to be actual...

mhonzell

Paul, you need to pass along a phone number.

Glad you are back! My "Paulese" just isn't the same.

mhonzell

I really like these two paragraphs: "One collector-friend of mine said: “On the three gold centennials, I am buying them because I feel the early 20th century coins are practically the essence of American coin collecting. I have trouble seeing how anyone could be interested in collecting U.S. c...

mhonzell

I intentionally made these questions difficult, which resulted in both a direct answer and an explanation on many of the responses. The explanations frequently indicated some of the correct answer. On those, I gave "half" a point. (All coins pictured were mine with exception to the bonded ...

mhonzell

1. The error is know as a “Cluster coin” or "Bonded coin". (See coin #5 in this auction ) This particular coin sold for $10,925. Bonded coins are created when the feeder system, which supplies blank planchets to the coin press, malfunctions and jams. When this occurs, a struck coin is not ...

mhonzell

Coming down to the final hours!

Take a chance at this contest and win a pristine coin simply by answering a few questions.

mhonzell

PMD
The copper clad has "rotted" off. Was likely a bubbled field originally and the zinc deteriorated enough that the copper came off.

mhonzell

Well, the short answer is: no.

Looks like someone decorated the reverse of this coin by repeatedly striking it with a chisel type instrument.

Welcome to the forum!

mhonzell

I've been working on valuing the different VAMs based on recent sales. Seems there are quite a number of factors that come into play. For instance: 1. How rare is the coin even if there is not a VAM designation? 2. How unique is the VAM designation? Clashes with the n & st are fairly common, but...

mhonzell

Sure! Put me down.
Anytime I identify one in the forum, I'll try to make a cleaner post for the blog.

mhonzell

Unfortunately, I cannot make out any details in this picture.

Welcome to the forum!
Hope we can get a better photo. Thanks.

mhonzell

:dunno I sent out thousands of notices (just ask Daniel... oops!) and have three responses.

Give it a shot... only one correct answer may be needed to win.
The coins provide all the clues! Just google them.

mhonzell

:agree:
Interesting find!

mhonzell

ANYONE can participate. You obviously have to sign-in to respond. (Click on photos to enlarge image.) I'd like to present this year's top prize: 2003 PFUC70.jpg A NGC encapsulated, 2003 Kennedy Half Dollar, graded as Proof 70, Ultra Cameo. This is yours by winning this contest, IF you are a CH Suppo...

mhonzell

Raul, I believe you are stating: 1. Over time a pressing machine will imprint vague impressions of a smaller coin's high points onto a larger planchet because the smaller coin's pressure points exert specific pressure through the die and onto the pressing machine's internals, which are later transmi...

mhonzell

Depends on your definition of "treasure". Once I've completed researching a coin and it's history, I find it far more interesting to own. The coin you have here is rather unique, and had you determined what it was, you'd want to keep it. (Real, or not.) Because, at that point, you know the...

mhonzell

Still, a very interesting find!

mhonzell

widegrin
Uh, fingerprints...

When you hold a coin, sweat, body oils, etc can etch a mark into the surface.

So, you called it.

mhonzell

Excellent photo of the building's edges.

mhonzell

Welcome to the forum!
Would really like to see a photo of any coin described here. Thanks!

mhonzell

I think you misunderstood Daniel, the photos do not show front to back orientation, so it cannot be determined if one of the dies were abnormally rotated when the coin was struck.

mhonzell

I love a puzzle, so here's a comment, or two... (I've been asked to show how I find some of these coins, so here's a long post with my train of thought.) You are fighting a few problems: 1) Where was this made? 2) How old is the coin? 3) What did the country of origin's numbers look like then? 4) Is...

mhonzell

Woohoo!

Glad to hear from you! You've been missed!

mhonzell

As to your other coins: 1. It is always best to purchase a book that will teach you about errors and grading. There are some good recommendations on this website! 2. This website, outside the forum, has many tools for identifying errors and photograding coins. 3. And unfortunately, you have to look ...

mhonzell

Unclad coins are difficult to attribute as authentic by photo. Most are not. The first test is always going to be weight, so you need a scale that can measure in grams down to 0.01g. (They cost about $10 on eBay, or your coin dealer may have one.) A normal quarter should weigh: 5.670g. An unclad qua...

mhonzell

When small tiny areas are filled in like the 5 or the B, it is usually the result of the tiny piece that makes that impression having broken from the die. Then, when the coin is pressed, the metal flows into the gap producing the filled in area. These are called "die chips" and are rather ...

mhonzell

Here's the issue: A coin dealer wants to re-sell these and make a profit. All but the 1964 Kennedy and 1908 Barber are worth face value since they are all damaged. The unclad quarter is interesting, but mixed in with this group, it was likely stripped of it's clad. The fat nickel was likely being wo...

mhonzell

Daniel has seen far more types of damage to coins, I'd take his comments first. (I'm still learning on these odd ones.)

mhonzell

Much better photo!!! This looks to be "sintered". That's an annealing problem that occurred during manufacture of the planchet metal resulting in an incomplete mixing of the metals used. In this case, the metal that " floated" to the surface of the coin picked up the equivalent o...

mhonzell

I'm thinking this is strike doubling. That occurs as the die pulls away from the coin after striking the coin leaving a flat surface with a "cliff" edge. "Strike doubling" or "machine doubling" also thins the lettering where the die moves into the previously struck lett...

mhonzell

That doubling looks pretty flat and some of the lettering is thinned, which points to "strike doubling".

Please post a picture of the whole coin, front and back.

mhonzell

I'd go with a long die crack on the obverse. Reverse looks more like plating issue.

mhonzell

We'd ask that you post one coin (front and back) to a single thread so that no one gets confused about the coin being discussed.

Thanks!

mhonzell

Great to have you in the forum! Looking forward to seeing those coins.
While I like the copper coins best, my toes will never see them. widegrin

mhonzell

Hard to tell from the photo, but is the obverse wheat sheath indented into the coin, or raised from the field's surface?

First guess is that it is indented into the surface. This would be from a second coin being laid on top of the coin and pounded into the bottom one.

mhonzell

Probably looked similar to this at one time:
(In perfect shape, can be purchased for about $4.)

mhonzell

Based on the title of the post, I am assuming that this coin looks much darker... almost black in color?

mhonzell

Yep. See the nicks along the edge that allow the copper to show through?

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