Expert: Ronald Fern - 12/16/2010

Question
hi. i don't know a lot about coins but when i found my quarter i knew it was a once in a lifetime find, fake or real. i have a U.S. quarter that has 3/4 of a U.S. dime stamped on the top. first you want to say fake cause to toatly differnt coin, well the fine detail in this coin is amazing. you can still see the quarters face thur the dime stamp an the dime thur the quarter, what would my best step be next? i want to know if it is real, but i don't want to let it out of my site to mail it off. can you offer any advice?

Answer
Hi Lacie:

Without a photo or more of a description, I can't give you an exact reason for your unusual coin. It may be an error or an altered coin. From your limited description, it sounds like you may have a normal quarter that was put into a vise and squeezed together with a dime. You did not say whether your quarter was distorted or bent. You also did not say if the image of the dime is reversed, or struck into your quarter. As an altered coin, your piece would have no added numismatic value. If you want to give me more of a description, or send photos of your coin in a follow-up question, I'll revised my answer, if required, in your follow-up question.

Sometimes people try and fool you into thinking you have a real error coin. Here are some examples of coins either being altered or damaged.
See link: http://coinauctionshelp.com/page15.html
See link: http://conecaonline.org/content/OhNo.htm

Here are two sites to check actual real error values:
http://www.coinsite.com/html/userrorprices.asp
http://minterrornews.com/priceguide.html

You may want to check US coins and currency listings under errors on eBay from time to time to see if your coin is listed what this type of item may bring.

If you live close to a local shop, they should offer an opinion as to the value at no charge. Always try and get at least two opinions and try and deal with PNG dealers if possible. If you should decide to sell your items to a dealer, remember they will offer about 50% to 60% of the retail value. Here's a link to find one in your area: http://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.