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Quarter Searching....
Onastone
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I'm still searching for that "W" quarter...never having searched rolls before, it's kind of interesting. Lots of dirty coins, one had a M & M stuck on it, I realize I should be wearing gloves. Found two '64 silver quarters, one quarter painted green, one Canadian, one nickel, and one quarter that looked like it was totally made of copper! Is that possible? It really stood out, not in the greatest shape, but for a clad coin, it sure looks different. 
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I think that is a thing... @ErrorsOnCoins and @FredWeinberg can probably tell you. To me it doesn't look like anything put on the surface, maybe an alloy issue?
Collector, occasional seller
@Onastone
Possible improper annealing.
http://www.error-ref.com/improper-annealing/
Wow, thanks @ChrisH821 & @Hemispherical. Improper annealing and it's become an error coin. Very cool. I like the color but I don't want it to peel off like that nickel sample did in the article.
Interesting find...I have not seen one of these 'in hand', but find the explanation interesting. If I still had access to annealing ovens (I do not), I would try that with a few quarters...Perhaps some of the forum members can do the experiment... would be neat to see the theory confirmed. Cheers, RickO
Could that be a missing clad layer?
That was my original assumption, but I like the annealing explanation better. Now I'm wondering if it would be worth having it slabbed.
I think weighing it will let you know if it's missing a clad layer.
What does the rim look like? Are there any traces of clad still visible?
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Nope. The rim is fully copper colored.
Well, I sent this in for grading and PCGS sent it back in a little plastic flip with a note Do Not Encapsulate....reason because it's counterfeit. So as far as I know, this is the only counterfeit coin I have. At least, I sure hope so.
Thx for the follow up.
I wonder if it is a counterfeit coin or a counterfeit error on a real coin.
I live right outside of Philadelphia and didn’t find a single 2019 quarter until December. Still haven’t found a W and haven’t found a silver coin of any denomination in a couple years. Ten years ago when I was working in retail I found a silver coin in change almost every day and got lucky once with a 14-S wheat around the same time.
What is the difference? Not being snarky, I really don't know. What would a counterfeit error on a real coin be attempting to do? I really thought this was just missing part of it's clad annealing process...still looks pretty real to me, but I have an untrained eye and have a lot more to learn. I wish PCGS would supply more information with graded coins, as why a coin got a 69 vs a 70 or what makes a certain coin counterfeit. I also sent in a coin they sent back with a simple note, unable to authenticate.
And the new 2019 coins are starting to display more wear now, already. Also, I have only found a couple San Antonios and one River of No Return. I'm out in Eastern Massachusetts thinking the source for us is Boston.
I figure it could be a counterfeit coin from start to finish. Struck in copper with a worn or insufficent plating or wash.
Or, it might be a genuine quarter which someone messed with to make it look like it had an error which would make it valuable (if it was a genuine error).
CF a recent modern quarter? Wow!
I’m guessing the CFers have nothing on the higher premium to CF?
Also wondering how many recent moderns are CF; and with the recent release of West Point quarters are they being affected since they are still being sold for many multiples of FV.
Its been done. One issue was some years ago when copper slugs with readed edges were dumped into machines. And of course with cheap production costs overseas anything is possible.
As for fakes of collectable coins of course it can and does happen but I haven't heard of fake W quarters (yet).
Wow a counterfeit. I would not have guessed.