1954-S Quarter: Mint Error or Counterfeit?
Bayard1908
Posts: 4,054 ✭✭✭✭
I recently came across a 1954-S quarter that is severely underweight. It's 4.49 grams instead of 6.25 grams. Although not magnetic, my immediate thought was that it must be counterfeit.
The coin is very thin, about the same thickness as a dime. I know very little about error coins; however, I wondered if maybe this is a genuine quarter mistakenly struck on dime thickness stock.
I did some quick math, squaring the diameter of each coin as a proxy for surface area. A silver dime weighs 2.50 grams. Based on the larger surface area, a quarter struck on silver dime stock would have a theoretical weight of just under 4.59 grams for a coin with no wear. That's close enough to make me curious.
What do you error experts think? If my speculation is not ridiculous, I would be happy to post or email photos of the coin. Thank you.
Comments
Without pictures, my first WAG is acid treated.
If you were still in downtown Chicago, I could show you the coin in hand tomorrow. I'll post a photo of each side momentarily. Thank you.
Acid our similar corrosive. That's why the surface is rough and the details mushy.
Looks like acid damaged. Might have been in a sewer where it got hit with the occasional drain cleaner.
Could have been rolling around in salt water for a while too.
Does it ring like silver? And would acid damage on a genuine coin change the sound of that ring?
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Thank you everyone.