Expert: PAPAJACK - 6/23/2009

Question
MY HUSBEND DELIVERS NEWSPAPERS TO NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINES HE ALSO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EMPTYING THEM OF QUARTERS, SO HE HANDLES A LOT OF QUARTERS! THE OTHER DAY HE FOUND A GOLDEN QUARTER IT IS AN OHIO STATE QUARTER DATED 2002 IT HAS THE RIBBED EDGES AND LOOKS LIKE A REGULAR QUARTER IN EVERY WAY EXCEPT IT IS A YELLOWISH GOLD COLOR.  WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS WHAT COULD IT BE?

Answer
Hello Kristi,            

Thank You for selecting me for this answer.

Since this is a modified coin, the value is questionable. It will still be worth 25 cents.

The amount of collectability for any altered or plated coin is negotiable only to a buyer looking for it. Most coin collectors are purists and will pay more than face value for the common copper-nickel version with no wear or scratches.

I have only seen non-collectors buy these plated coins and other people pick them up for the novelty of them. See sites like;
http://www.thefind.com/gifts/info-24k-gold-plated-state-quarters
http://www.morganmint.com/product1.aspx?SID=2&Product_ID=11413
http://www.smyrnacoin.com/category/state_quarter___complete_1999___2008_sets/?gc...
These coins will never sell to coin collectors for as much as the above sites are asking.

Recently I have seen Gold Plated 1999 S.B.A.’s at a coin show packaged with a Sacagawea Gold Colored Dollar coin. No true Coin collectors were buying them though.

Any of these colored, Hallmarked, re-stamped or plated coins are a gimmick. And therefore have no added value.

FOR COINS IN GENERAL:
As long as it happened after it left the minting process, even if it is gold plated, enameled, painted or two-tone the value and collectability is very limited. A collector of numismatic material wants the coins EXACTLY as issued.

If the US Mint does a make a coin issue to commemorate an historical event or similar Design (State Quarters) engineered into the coin during the production then it will have a higher collectable value.

I am not saying not to collect these items. Enjoy them for what they are. But time has proven they will not usually sell for the price people pay for them on the secondary market. As with any Collectable it may become popular with Non-Coin-Collectors one day and sell for more.

Good Luck

PapaJack