Posted 13 years ago
dmouse8
(6 items)
This coin is gold in color , it is NOT the light reflecting onto it. I work in a convenience store so I am always coming across old coins. Sometimes I think people get hard up for cash n get into Grandmother's coin stash. I say this because, there isn't just one here and there show up its several pieces at a time from the same people who NEVER have $ and use every last cent they have to buy cigs. LUCKY ME, I am always scannin the change to see what treasure might be in there.
May it have been part of a Commemorative set?
I believe you are correct. We have a large board (cardboard) with a U.S. map on it. Each state has a place to put the quarter for that state. In the far upper right there is a place to insert the gold coin. I know there were places that put what they called a gold layer over the original coin. Those sold for around $6. The gold color one we had I got as change from the store. I think we gave the board and all the quarters away a couple of years ago.
I also got this coin for change at work. As I was looking through my change last night, I found yet another gold coin. There are coin collectors in a neighboring town and I was thinking about taking my collection to see if I had anything good. They will tell you if they are valuable and offer you $$$ on the spot. You do not have to sell though. Thank You for the input. :)
Unfortunately this is likely just a gold-plated replica. There are some Manganese Brass experimental quarters floating about out there but all of them are 1999 (like yours) but are Philadelphia mint only, and most of them are at least 5.9 grams, though there is a large range which has exhibited even 6.5 so those in the 5.7-5.8 regular range wouldn't be unheard of.
One of the most helpful tips in telling the difference between a gold plate and a true Manganese Brass (other than checking the grain of the metal itself) is to see if it exhibits a "cartwheel/pinwheel" spinning effect in the light. Plated coins are "Damaged" and thus their pinwheel luster will be gone, or at least dramatically reduced while the gold will shine more like a mirror.