Identifying missing clad layer

lholleman97

I have a few quarters that I was told could be missing a clad layer, however they do not look similar to one another.
Are there different ways in which a coin could look or the color may be different? I have one quarter that is green brown in color only on the obverse side. Another one almost looks like red paint, however it only appears to outline Washington and it is on both sides of the coin. And one that is red in color on both sides, I can only describe it as a badly pixelated red picture when looking at it in a magnifying glass.
Is there a way to identify when a clad layer is missing or a suggestion on what I might look for? I have a book and the pictures are great but it’s not useful at showing what to look for.

Thank you for you assistance.

Lisa

ctf_error_coins

We need photos.

But, almost for sure tho, your coins are damaged and not missing a clad layer.

Steven59

Environmental damage changes color on clad and copper coins. As in being buried in the ground. But yes, will need pictures to say for sure.

Oldhoopster

As others have said, environmental damage can easily make the cupronickel cladding appear copper colored. Ask anyone who metal detects.

While it is possible to find a missing clad layer in change, the odds arev very, very low. If both sides of the coin are discolored, you don't have one. If it weighs within the standard tolerance of 5.67 grams +/- 0.227 gms, you don't have one.

Post a pic for confirmation, but don't get your hopes up

ricko

@lholleman97.... Welcome aboard.... As stated above, we will need pictures to confirm the diagnosis. However, from your description, it sounds like it is environmental damage and not a missing layer. Cheers, RickO

MarkW63

And how likely is it that you found them in a Coinstar machine?
I've never used a Coinstar machine to cash in my detecting finds, I just roll them and take them to a bank, but that's not the case for a large number of detectorist, they just dump them in.
Clad coin if they've been lost in the ground for very long do not come out of the ground with any of their silvery clad appearance.

seanq

Easiest way to confirm is to weigh them, a missing clad layer should be a few tenths of a gram underweight. There are lots of forms of environmental damage that could cause parts of a clad coin to take on a reddish color, so pics would be very helpful too.

Sean Reynolds