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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/fingerprint in my quarter

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Expert: - 1/8/2010


Question
I read some of your answers about grease in the dies. I found a quarter today that has a fingerprint struck into it. I think that is what happened any way. It is a 2005 West Virginia quarter. I just wondered if it was in the same boat as the other missing letter quarters. Thank you sir.

Answer
John,

It's not likely to have been struck that way.  More likely somebody with dirty hands handled it a couple years ago, and whatever was on their hands had a chemical reaction with the metal on the surface and ate its way into the coin.  This is why we handle collectible coins only by the edges.

Considered damaged, this will have no collector value.

Dan

Coin and Paper Money Collecting

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Dan Moore

Expertise

My strong familiarity with all U.S. Mint coins, extensive reference library, and close relationships with many other dealers allows me to identify just about any coin made in the USA. I receive regular updates to all the current price guides -- both wholesale & retail -- to provide accurate values. So, with a good description or pictures, I should be able to identify and value any U.S. coin you have.

Experience

I've been a coin dealer since the 1980's and a coin collector since the 1960's. I specialize in U.S. Silver Coins and have an active online website -- The Working Man's Rare Coins -- http://www.workingmancoins.com -- offering information and inventory in U.S. coins.

Organizations I belong to :
American Numismatic Association Member #187770
Michigan State Numismatic Society Member #8255
Florida United Numismatics Member #19710
Monroe Coin Club Treasurer
Lincoln Coin Club Board Member
WINS Member #14
CoinMasters Member #1814

Frequently Asked Questions :
I have created a Frequently Asked Questions page on my website, where you may be able to get an immediate answer to your question. You can find the page here :
http://www.workingmancoins.com/FAQ/index.htm


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