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Agree to disagree. I understand the curiosity factor, but what are the experts going to bring? Unless they did a controlled experiment to simulate potential environmental conditions, they are just offering an opinion. If you are interested in experts narrowing down the possibilities, maybe you should tag them so they can respond. Once again, does it really matter if the coin was damaged by a strong acid, weak acid, or base. It's damage. If you want to do a controlled experiment and report the results, knock your socks off. While I think the results will be interesting, I don't believe it will add much to the body of scholarship regarding the minting process As for your comment regarding members spending lots of time discussing the exact cause if PMD, thats my point, does it really matter? It's PMD. BTW: did a number if "informal" experiments in the chem lab during grad school. Clad coins don't play well with nitric acid. Also, if a quarter is hydraulically pressed into a thick aluminum oxide substrate, it will completely melt at 2800F (could never prove which production operator did that experiment, but it ruined about $1000 in parts and high temperature kiln fixtures)

The problem with trying to determine the cause of PMD, is that there are so many ways it could occur. Is saying environmental damage good enough? Is it acid? Nitric? Acetic (vinegar)? Hypochloric? Organic acids? An Alkali? Drano? Ammonia? Something else? Unless you were there when the coin was damaged, how would you know? All we can do is speculate and give an educated guess. So once again, if it didn't occur at the mint, does it really matter what caused the damage?

You can't argue with logic like that!

@SharannYes they made a 3 coin set in 1976. they also make proof set, silver proof sets, and American Silver Eagles.

1992 D close AM is the one you want to look out for.

😂 Sure. This is post is well written and clearly we are “kind of the retarded side”.

I ended up buying a Buffalo Nickle that I really loved the color of. I tried to talk myself out of it but I wouldn't listen to myself. I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth, and hit the buy button. I couldn't help myself. I really love the coloring of it. My question is what causes the striped coloring? Is it the metals not mixing properly and then toning different shades? Also does it look like it's been altered in any way?

lol..You laugh now mister, just you wait and see! The TPGs grade the best of the best, but we need a TPG that will grade the worst of the worst!🤣😂

Why would time and energy be spent to, at best, create a system for educated guesses on causes of environmental damage? It’s damaged. It’s not like acid damage will be seen as better than corrosion damage. Other than you fulfilling your need to over orate is there really a point to this at all?

My wife got me a present today another silver set 1994. This is the sister to the other set I got at the same antique store. They have been in the same display case for years side by side . This one is not quite as nice as the 1996 set I bought it has a few more nicks and scratches but at least the family is back together again and on display in my place.. LoL

The MQA Scale For PMD COINS? My highest grade is U-70 Unsightly, add ED, then a ☆ for deserving of a flip. I have yet to grade below #2 D-60 Disfigured yet.

That's really sad because the coins in pretty good shape other than that

That's a hard lesson.

Oh ok too much to remember 😂

I have a 2020-S PCGS MS65 Salt River Bay NP Quarter. I had got a roll of them from the U.S. Mint last year. I thought it would grade higher. Only quarter out of that roll that I sent in for grading because almost all of them were spotted and scratched. Ive got better coins in pocket change. Lesson learned.

That's a cool find.

I received this Today in change after flying in from Florida...I got excited, thought it was a "W" it is San Fran (and that's Perfectly Fine with me ) I collect the unc. "S" quarter for 2015 and have them in U.S. Mint wrapped rolls, purchased from the mint. They are not Silver and neither is the one in photos.

Yes. You will need to come up with a new handle, though, as "George, Paul, Ringo, John, and Justbob" lacks a certain je ne sais quoi.

Cool. Does that mean I will become an honorary Beatle?

Ask the question another way - how could this occur during the minting process. It can't be a planchet error because the tons of striking pressure wouldn't leave a rough surface. How could a die be damaged to such an extent that the surfaces leave that appearance on a struck coin? Maybe it's acid, maybe it's environmental, maybe it's something else. In the end, it doesn't really matter what caused the damage, the coin didn't leave the mint in that condition.

I want to make sure I am understanding this correctly. San Francisco's last year to produce quarters was 1954 until 1969 when they began to produce them for mint sets only. Are they still not producing quarters in San Francisco? So any quarters with an S mint mark after 1954 are from broken mint sets only.

I am a new collector, and have been at this for a year in April. Given that I have done all of my collecting in a COVID lockdown, I enjoy looking at the registries to compare coins and develop my eye to the extent that a photograph will allow. I am particularly looking to develop my eye in coppers, as there can be a wide variance in color within an associated color grade (RD, RB, BN). However, I have noticed that many of the registries in Half Cents are devoid of pictures - even the top sets. So.. I would like to make an ask to the Copper Registry Collectors (Half Cents & Large Cents in Particular)... please post pics of your coins to help me learn them and train my eye for color, surface, preservation and eye appeal. I would love to be able to learn from your expertise through your coins. Thanks x 1,000,000 in advance!

Welding rod burn it appears to me

93 is when they started the close AM

I have got to the point that I can spot MS coins in my change quickly, and set them aside. Then inspect them outside in natural lighting, then with a pen light, and finally a lighted 10x loupe. Very few pass the test and go into a flip.

["Free shipping" as opposed to expedited shipping, internationally speaking, means overland by coach thru several countries and transport via tramp steamer to Port Elizabeth, New Jersey or a lesser dock of renown in Hell's Kitchen, New York or Red Hook Brooklyn.] 😉

Using the Modwriter Scale For Damaged Coins, it would grade out at D-60☆, Disfigured, but kinda cool looking, ☆=deserving of a flip. Congratulations!

Using the Modwriter Scale For Damaged Coins, it would grade out at U-70☆, Unsightly, but kinda cool looking, ☆=deserving of a flip. Congratulations!

Does that happen with silver and gold, too ? Pre-1933 gold ?

Your own speculation as to the cause is correct---unevenly mixed alloy. When the ingots are run through rollers these irregular concentrations get stretched out into lines that don't become visible until exposed to the environment after coining.

Well I will not argue the fact that thefts by US Postal Service employees occur but theft of inventory occurs in all industries in the world. I send Registered Mail and I often use Priority Mail Express which is Over Night* I can track the package every USPS facility it hits when it comes and when it goes. I do not doubt people have had problems but some folks should examine how they use the USPS. Why I don't use FedEx: Two separate occasions I was informed my FedEx package (one a 55" high value Flat Screen) was delivered. The TV was found 2 months later by the manager of a vacant apartment building a mile from where I live. She brought the unopened box to me upon finding it and seeing the address. The other one; a high value item, was never found. * Takes 2 days from my small PA town and that is fine with me.

What do you want, the whistleblower's name, address, DOB and SSN?

It's raw. I'm gonna look it over really good and then send it in and have it graded

Nice. Now -- if that were the doubled obverse die.....

You'll get the hang of it. Most folks don't submit coins without a good idea of the value, and are sure it is going to be worth it. Coins worth $150 or so seems to be about where people are comfortable getting them graded. Hang around, read everything here and you'll get it. Until then you can always post your coin to get an idea of value before making any decisions.

First: I could care less about FedEx or UPS. I, me, do not ship through those individuals. I have seen the 'complaints of theft' posted by individuals on Coin Forums and have see a few reports by this NCIC Agency. As for being "torn open' has anybody tried to 'tear opem' a shipment from PCGS or NGC? Good luck on that. I cannot come up with a monetary value of my shipments; age has dulled my memory but it was substantial. Now for the tricks in shipping. 1. I use a good strong box. 2. I surround the entire box in Glass Reinforced Tape (I will wreck the USPS sorting machine before my box is 'torn open') 3. And most important the shipping label. I address it to: PCS or PGS or NC, or NG and then on the second and third lines P.O. Box 9548 - Newport Beach, CA 92658 (Zip big and bold) The USPS delivers to an address - NOT A NAME. No where do I put any relation to the contents. Hope this little bit helps.

If you look at my Cherry Pickers post you can see some types of coin variations. I am always looking for something ...

Cleaning is a No No. Some coins can be conserved. Going by some of your recent posts, I believe you are pretty new to coins, so I would advise you to not attempt either method.

Agree with the last line of @l.cutler's post. The more you learn about coins and the minting process, the easier it will to find things and you'll waste less time on damaged coins. That being said, finding valuable coins in change is rare. Just like the scratch off tickets, there are lots of losers, a few very minor layoffs and very, very few winners. I'm not being rude, but if you only are in this to make money, you'll probably do better collecting cans along the side of the road. If it was easy to make a fortune searching pocket change, most of us would be sitting on a beach in Caribbean by now Assuming you have a little experience, here are some sites to look at Www.error-ref.com Www.varietyvista.com Www.Doubleddie.com Here is a site that explains how coins are made. https://www.usmint.gov/news/inside-the-mint/how-coins-are-made-coin-production-terminology

Wow, the possibilities are endless. You could look for better condition coins, older wheat cents or pre 64 silver, foreign coins can be found, the newer W mint quarters, you could try to put together a set of Memorial cents or Jefferson nickels, there are errors and varieties, whatever interests you. Do some serious studying on coins and see what you like.

I haven't lost coins, but I have lost currency stolen by postal workers (not that I was sending for grading; to a friend). Since I mailed the piece directly in a post office inside mailbox, and it was held for pickup at the destination, it never left postal custody during that time. My recipient got the piece in a plastic envelope apologizing for it being "damaged," but the currency had been removed. I am not sure how they determined what was inside, but there was no opportunity for non-postal people to steal it. I'm not sure how organized or clever it might be, but there is definitely a mail theft problem within the postal service.

I would also think that when the TPG sends it back to you is also a risk. Clearly, postal workers and the overnight shippers know various packages contain valuable coins, jewelry, etc. They know the addresses. And they look for them. Fully insure 100% of the value.

Get insurance, because the crooked workers at USPS/FedX/UPS have clearly determined that packages going to PCGS and NGC are valuable coins.

1878-CC Morgan Silver Dollar MS62PL**VAM-11 WING LINES**TOP 100**NGC**VERY RARE On Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/1878-CC-Morgan-Silver-Dollar-MS62PL-VAM-11-WING-LINES-TOP-100-NGC-VERY-RARE/284229171525? 1903 O Morgan Dollar - NGC MS 64 Beautiful Coin with incredible Luster - Scarce On Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/1903-O-Morgan-Dollar-NGC-MS-64-Beautiful-Coin-with-incredible-Luster-Scarce/353429251520?

Brunswick-Luneberg 2/3 Thaler 1679

One of the fancier coin that I got recently, using glass element on the coin.

Agree my money is on it being in the ground for some time, then recovered and tumbled. The pitting/stippling looks like what you see when one has been in the ground. That or Lincoln has smallpox again.

It was damaged by something. Maybe an acid or heat. It's safe to say it did not leave the mint looking like that.

I would say it is most likely some sort of environmental damage. Possibly a metal detector find. Could also have been chemically altered or dipped.