Coin and Paper Money Collecting/delaminated quarter?

Advertisement

Expert: - 12/20/2009


Question
I have a 1973 US quarter that will actually come apart in to two pieces. The face will come out of the back and a small slice of the face is missing. When you take the face out, the very center of the rear comes with it.  Is this normal?

Answer
Hi Chris:

Thanks for your question.

No, what you have is not normal. Without a photo, or actually seeing the coin, it would only be a guess, but I'd expect your coin to be real, and the "error" to be helped, or man made outside the mint. It sounds like an interesting conversation piece, but not worth more than a dollar or two to an interested collector. See link: http://conecaonline.org/content/OhNo.htm

Clad quarters are explosive bonded with the outer clad layers adhering to the copper center, forming a sandwich-type coin. What you describe could not happen as a result of a legitimate error. Yours may have been machined to make this type of "special" coin. It may be the start of a "Magician's Coin". This coin would be used to trick people when guessing heads or tails, for you always loose when this party picks the other side of a two heads or tails coin.

You may want to check eBay listings in the error category under US coins from time to time to see if coins like yours are listed and what they are going for. You may also want to check out these links on error coin values:
http://www.coinsite.com/html/USErrorPrices.asp
http://www.minterrornews.com/priceguide.html

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.

Coin and Paper Money Collecting

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.