Fresh from ANACS - I have questions... was hoping for Improperly Annealed, got Improper Alloy Mix
Kurisu
Posts: 2,203 ✭✭✭✭✭
Continuing with my mild obsession with misannealed coins...especially since they have all been found while CRHing 
There's just something I find pleasing about them.
My 2 questions:
Are there visual clues to tell the difference between Improperly Annealed and Improper Alloy Mix?
I was so sure these nickels would be misannealed. The lovely charcoaled surfaces, beautiful luster...
But I was wrong apparently. I'd love to learn from my misdiagnosis.
I had posted about these nickels here in the forum, althought the post didn't get much attention I did get a quick agreement from @MsMorrisine that they were likely misannealed - https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1122542/2-improperly-annealed-nickels Not calling you out for being incorrect my friend...I just also thought (obviously, since I posted it) that it was misannealed and consider you to be one of the resident experts, so I was just surprised by the result. Especially since I was correct about the previous 3 misannealed coins I sent in to ANACS (link to that post is below).The 2014-D 25c AU55 Great Sand Dunes came did not get an Improperly Annealed attribution and ANACS included a helpful note about the coin, "Unable to verify the variety requested for this item. For this type of variety, coins need to be fully Uncirculated to make the determination".
My understanding is that improperly annealed coins keep their charcoaled look even with wear. On top of that, this coin still actually has really nice luster as well. Any thoughts as to why were they not able to confirm if it's misannealed or not?
The last coin is actually a Die Adjustment Strike, "Details" due to the obvious coin rolling machine circle of death. But no complaints! Might not have sent it in if @FredWeinberg hadn't called it out for me last year https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/13893758#Comment_13893758 thanks Fred!!
Coins are Neato!
"If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone...somewhere...is making a penny." - Steven Wright
Comments
In the words of Mick Jagger: "You can't always get what you want..."
or maybe he said he was standing in line with Mr Jimmy and he looked pretty ill.
Could an XRF machine see the alloy mix? If so perhaps that is how it was determined that the alloy was off.
Improperly annealed would have the correct alloy?
bob
Agreed. Perhaps that's how the final determination was made...
But I would love to know if there are visual diagnostics too, since one of those machines isn't (currently) in my budget
Coins are Neato!
"If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone...somewhere...is making a penny." - Steven Wright
If you really want an improper annealed coin, look for a 1958 Jefferson, I think that is among the most common for that specific mint error.