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2008 Hawaii state quarter error - laser circle
yoyoagogo
Posts: 4
-In a 2008 Silver Proof set I found the Hawaiian state quarter with a small frosted circle on the obverse side. I am very familiar with the Foba laser process the Mint uses in frosting their dies.
-The process of test frosting a die before running production is normal. This way only one is sacrificed and not the whole lot. Laser operators have different approaches in performing these tests.
-I believe the operator forgot to remove the test spot from the program before they ran the laser for full production. What's odd is this die got past the laser operator, polisher, die supervisor, die setter and press operator to be finally run in the press and then packaged.
-The other possibility is that the test die got mixed up with good frosted dies and ended up being used. Or they were in pinch for dies and someone went to the laser polishing room and helped themselves. Weirder stuff has happened like in 1999 when a die setter at the West Point Mint wired brushed 1/10th oz and 1/4 oz gold Proof dies and decided to use them to press uncirculated coins. Too bad poor training at West Point led to no one knowing Proofs have a Mint mark and Unc don't.
-After asking around it is my belief is that this error was discovered at S.Fran and all coins where collected prior to shipment. In November 2008 the West Point Mint asked S.Fran Mint to send them packaged sets in order to sell at West Point to their employees for Christmas gifts. It appears S.Fran didn't keep good tract as to where the error coin sets where located and shipped them to West Point for sale. This means that only a hand full, if that much, got sold.
-My question is are there more of these out there? Has anyone seen any others? I've enclosed a picture of the frosted laser circle.
-The process of test frosting a die before running production is normal. This way only one is sacrificed and not the whole lot. Laser operators have different approaches in performing these tests.
-I believe the operator forgot to remove the test spot from the program before they ran the laser for full production. What's odd is this die got past the laser operator, polisher, die supervisor, die setter and press operator to be finally run in the press and then packaged.
-The other possibility is that the test die got mixed up with good frosted dies and ended up being used. Or they were in pinch for dies and someone went to the laser polishing room and helped themselves. Weirder stuff has happened like in 1999 when a die setter at the West Point Mint wired brushed 1/10th oz and 1/4 oz gold Proof dies and decided to use them to press uncirculated coins. Too bad poor training at West Point led to no one knowing Proofs have a Mint mark and Unc don't.
-After asking around it is my belief is that this error was discovered at S.Fran and all coins where collected prior to shipment. In November 2008 the West Point Mint asked S.Fran Mint to send them packaged sets in order to sell at West Point to their employees for Christmas gifts. It appears S.Fran didn't keep good tract as to where the error coin sets where located and shipped them to West Point for sale. This means that only a hand full, if that much, got sold.
-My question is are there more of these out there? Has anyone seen any others? I've enclosed a picture of the frosted laser circle.
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Comments
Very interesting. I would think there aren't many of these, otherwise one would have been reported by now, as proof sets are quick to be scrutinized for quality issues. Is it obviously in the die and not a planchet issue?
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I've checked the three silver sets I have; found no evidence of
a similar spot/mark. Oh well..
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New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.