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Vending machines wouldn't take my quarter?

What could be wrong with a coin for vending machines not to accept it?

I tried the same quarter in three different machines and it got rejected by all three. It's a U.S. quarter, 1996, in about the condition you'd expect a circulated 1996 to be. It looks like any other quarter.

What could be wrong with this particular one?

Comments

  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 8,160 ✭✭✭✭✭
    ...are the edges filed?
    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
  • jrinckjrinck Posts: 1,321 ✭✭
    No, the edges are scored (or whatever the term for it is).
  • BECOKABECOKA Posts: 16,960 ✭✭✭
    I have that problem with some of the state quarters. It sometimes takes 10-20 inserts before it is accepted.
  • It was probably made in china and bought off ebay image
    imageQuid pro quo. Yes or no?
  • 57loaded57loaded Posts: 4,967 ✭✭✭
    use pre 1965 quarters...just kidding

    my soapbox is for ALL vending machines to take $1 coins and no bills


  • << <i>No, the edges are scored (or whatever the term for it is). >>



    Reeded is the term. Sounds like yours is possibly underweight. Off metal strike? Thin planchet? Try weighing it using an accurate scale and give us your results.
  • tahoe98tahoe98 Posts: 11,388 ✭✭✭


    the machine thought it was a prez buck image
    "government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is a force! like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." George Washington
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,697 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The two usual suspects are improper electric signature and weight.

    Plating might cause the former as well as bubbling and the like but these
    should all be apparent. Weight can be off if the coin is struck on dime stock
    but this, too, should be apparent.

    The fact that the coin is worn is highly suspicious since a coin that won't go
    through a vending machine can not circulate normally so would not have typ-
    ical wear.

    Of course, if you try various machines and it won't work then one ids left to
    think either the machines are all operated by the same vendor who keeps
    them tuned to tight tolerances or the problem is unrelated to excessive wear.

    Some of the older clad quarters are accumulating a surprising amount of wear
    and are going to present a problem at some point. The clad strip was reduced
    by 1% thickness in 1999 presumably to address this issue. Still the heaviest
    high grade '98 quarters will define the high end of the range and the lightest
    '65's the los end. It will be at least ten years before the high end comes down
    sufficiently to tighten these ranges a little.

    I suspected for some time that the FED will have to start separating the highly
    worn coins out of circulation. It's a cheap enough process.
    Tempus fugit.
  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,715 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Many times you can spit on a coin that is being rejected and it will be accepted.

    I'm sure glad I don't collect the coins from vending machines, I'd think about that all the time and probably be like Monk!
  • PawPaulPawPaul Posts: 5,845
    ..I had one years ago too -turned out it was struck on half dollar stock !!

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