I got this quarter in some change and it's really shiny. I know all new coins are shiny, but this is rediculous. Except for the washington head, it doesn't reflect light real well. Same on the other side, the design doesn't reflect real well, but the background is rediculous. It's a lot lighter than a regular quarter, weight wise. Also the mint is an s, rather than a p or d. Just for reference, its a 2005 Minnesota state quarter. Just wondering the significance of this qurter. Why is it so damn shiny?
2007-02-21 18:05:47 · 3 answers · asked by tenacious D fan 2 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
This is very interesting. You were smart enough to include the fact that it has an "s" mintmark. The S mintmark is for San Francisco. The San Francisco mint produces the "Proof" versions of the State quarters and all circulating coinage for that matter. You have a "Proof" quality quarter there that somehow oddly got into circulation.
Proof coins are manufactured for collectors (numismatists) or other folks that wish to have a special version of our coinage. The difference is in the way the coin is prepared and minted.
The planchet or blank metal circle is highly polished much more so then the stard coins for circulation minted in Philadelphia or Denver (P or D). In addition to the high polish, the coin is struck by the dies at least twice to make a sharper more disticnt impression on the coin.
The result is highly reflective surfaces in the fields or background of the coin where there are no design elements and to have a frosted look that we call a cameo or deep cameo contrast to the devices of the coin or the higher raised design elements.
We also have other special coins minted in Proof quality at another mint, W for West Point such as most of our bullion coins, well out gold, silver and platnium proof coins are minted at Westpoint.
Look around the US Mints web-site for 2006 and 2007 examples.
www.usmint.gov
2007-02-21 18:14:56 · answer #1 · answered by KingGeorge 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The S mint mark means the quarter was minted at San Francisco. That mint only makes proof quality coins. Either it was inadvertantly introduced into circulation, or someone purchased a proof set, opened it up, and spent it (a foolish thing to do, considering the cost of a proof set). The quarter you have is a proof coin.
2007-02-21 18:19:26 · answer #2 · answered by Wise Old Man 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't handle it too much.
Go to some coin experts (maybe dealers) and see if it is a proof.
It may of came from someone coin collection.Ask how much it is worth.
2007-02-21 18:18:58 · answer #3 · answered by robert p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋