1988 coins

DanArgent

Is there something strange about 1988 coins. I have noticed that the 1988 dimes, quarters and nickels that I have found in circulation generaly have a much nicer color and shine then all the surrounding years. Was the metal composition of thee coins somehow different than surrounding years?

Dan

Dennis88

1988 was just a good year

Dennis

Sorry, don't know the answer really....

mheffner2

Oddly enough 1988 had far more pieces (cents, nickels & especially dimes, anyhow) minted than in the six year span around it. That sure doesn't explain anything. Maybe the prices for materials were down that year and they tweeked the comp %? I'm shooting in the dark here!

TheLiberator

Interesting. I thought I had noticed this with the cents as well. I thought I was the only one!

JRocco

88 was not always a good year for quality control at the mint.

cladking

There are relatively few '88 quarters left out there with any luster but the luster
did hold up a little better than some surrounding dates. It definitely varies from
year to year (and to a lesser extent, mint to mint). It is probably related to the
hardness imparted by the dies and the depth of this hardness. There may well
be some association with the coefficient of friction also since some dates are more
slippery than others.

The '72-D quarter's luster lasted long after most of the '77 issues lost theirs. The
'73-D wore very well but only until the late '70's when it seemed to self destruct.

There are a multitude of factors which can affect this but most others in these
specific cases seem to be able to be ruled out.