possible Error Dime finds - Sintered? or something else?

xbob

Here are two dimes found in circulation that are odd. Anyone know if these are errors and what type? Would either be considered sintered?
The third example is for color comparison against the "blackened" one, athough It does have a satin finish compared to a normal dime but it could just be from circulating (?).
Example 1: copper splotches on obverse

Example 2: "Blackened" Dime, normal clad shows on just a few places (at hairline, across "Y"), specks are just dust. On the edge, the copper part of the clad layer is full red and shiny but the nickel-copper part is black like the faces.

Example 3: "Satin" finish dime - for color comparison to example 2

xbob

bump. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

mgoodm3

I don't have anything to add, but figured I would bump it.

xbob

<< <i>I don't have anything to add, but figured I would bump it. >>



Thanks. Sometimes a post just has bad timing. No error expert folks tonight, unless this one's just a stumper.

cladking

The first one is probably just tarnish. If you heat a clad to around 600 degrees or so
the whole coin will look like that. I'd guess someone heated it quickly on one side and
then cooled it before both sides got like that but I've not seen one quite like that.

The second one is seen fairly often straight out of the mint. You'll need an error guy to
tell you why.

I'd assume that third one is the same thing though this effect is usually seen on both sides.

rich

nice pics!Very interesting.Looks like the 2nd one is contamination.1st one could be sintered.hopefully you will get more opinions

errormaven

Dime #1 looks more like discoloration that occurred outside the mint, possibly as the result of heat-treating. But I can't exclude "sintered plating" or "copper wash" as a cause.

Dime #2 may be a case of mint discoloration.

"Sintered plating", "copper wash", and other errors that leave a Cu-Ni or clad coin discolored or with a layer of copper on the surface are not well understood at all, despite what you may read.

The nickels with thick copper plating are really puzzling, in that a percentage are significantly underweight -- exactly the opposite of what you'd expect. Some show flaking of composite nickel-and-copper layers. Some show flaking of normally-colored areas. When the copper flakes off, the underlying metal may be black or brown. I've even seen some with nickel splitting to reveral underlying copper.

The range of colors also needs to be explained. Among "sintered plating" and "copper wash" errors, colors range among copper, red, brown, and black. Several colors may occur on the same coin.

Withing the broader category of mint discoloration, colors range among copper, red, brown, black, yellow, yellow-gold, yellow-green, pewter, purple, orange -- and I've probably missed some. Nobody knows the cause. Often accompanying this discoloration is streakiness.

xbob

Thanks errormaven (and other replies). I've been curious about sintered and thought #1 might be.

I'll guess I'll just put them aside in my collection as anomalies. They are interesting even if nothing more.