2013 D dime
geniebean
Posts: 2 ✭
By no means am I knowledgeable about coins, so I thought I’d come here and ask you lovely folk.
I found this super pretty colored dime and I’m wondering if y’all could tell me why it’s so different. In the pictures the dime on the right (bottom) is the one in question, the left (top) is just for comparison purposes.
Thank you for your time! ♥
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The color changes are usually thin oxide layers on the metal's surface. These layers reflect light, which causes nice looking interference fringes from partial reflection from the front and back of these layers. The colors that get reflected depend on the thickness and the angle of the light, which causes iridescent optical effects (mother of perl has a similar mechanism, but with many layers of changing optical density).
The formation and stability of these layers depend on the metal and conditions under which it is exposed. Titanium can produce very pretty oxide layers that last a long time at room temperature after their production. This is commonly being use for jewelry. Stable layers on silver and certain annealed steel parts like watch springs can also be observed. I am not aware the lead, tin or zinc produce such layers or that they have mechanically stable oxide layers. Aluminum makes a thick, porous oxide layer which doesn't seem to be too visible on its own, except when it's really thick and becomes a dull grey. This is commonly used in anodization to make hard protective aluminum surfaces. Aluminum oxide anodization can be readily dyed, printed etc. and is technically very useful. Another technically useful process that works on many metals is chromate conversion coating, which does produce thin, colorful films, as well. Not too long ago highly toxic hexavalent chromium has been regulated, though, and only trivalent chromate can now be used for most technical applications. I think certain aerospace applications are still exempt.
On gold and platinum these layers don't form, at all, I believe, at least not using oxygen, alone.
The details of formation, thickness as a function of heating etc. is a question for the chemists and material scientists. Physically they will change thickness depending on the treatment, which will change their optical appearance. The strongest optical effects are being cause by layers that have approximately the thickness of half a wavelength or a full wavelength of light. The layers also need to have the highest possible index of refraction, which is a density problem, and they should be of roughly uniform thickness, which requires controlled process parameters.
If you are looking for scientific literature on the subject, the topic is usually discussed under "optical properties of thin films", whereby a thin film can mean such an oxide layer on metals or glass, a film of oil on water or any other structure that forms a thin, nearly homogeneous optical layer. Your topic does belong into physics with regards to optical properties, but the technical question of how to make these layers is more of a material science question. I don't know if there is an ideal forum for that.
Or, environmental damage.
You must have us confused with someone else.
Welcome to the forum!
There are many things that cause discolorations on coins.
It didn't leave the mint that way, not an error.
The bottom (reddish) coin has environmental damage. It was dropped in an acidic environment (forrest floor, beach sand, or something intentional) and is damaged. Simple.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
@geniebean .... Welcome aboard. Your dime is environmentally damaged... As @TomB has stated above. No numismatic premium. Cheers, RickO
And nice to see that the forum members gave some details, and didn't simply respond "PMD".
In case the OP (original poster) reads this, "PMD" means post-mint damage, generically anything that damaged the coin after it left the mint, so not a minting error, and almost never making a coin more collectable.
Edited to add: "PMD" is widely used in the forums... but not "ED" for Environmental Damage?
Environmental damage. Value is ten cents.
Welcome aboard @geniebean.
It is environmental damage as stated above.
IMO, the coin was subjected to some type of chemical bath which caused this "look"
Any relationship to Jelly?
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
A dime buried in the ground for a few years might look like that.
Thanks y’all, I really appreciate it & have learned quite a bit today. ʕᵔᴥᵔʔ
Honestly I’m kind of glad she’s not worth anything, I want to turn it into a charm of sorts.
Anyways! I wish the best of luck to all of you, may you find what you most desire. ♥
I have found what I most desire it’s just my wife won’t give me one. I am of course speaking of a double eagle
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set