RWB

The purpose was to help collectors engage with people who had done the research, but who are simply faceless names to most -- or is that nameless faces --- or..... The FUN people saw no value to the attempt.

Thanks for the clarification.....

I'm sure commissions were paid all 'round the barn.

No. A couple of years ago I offered to coordinate an "Author conversation" table. A place were collectors could meet authors and chat without any sales pressure. Would have 3 or 4 authors there at one time. FUN quickly decided it would cost them a valuable table and a paper sign, and would have nothing to do with it. So I said "S*** it" and want nothing to do with them. Also told Central States to go suck a chicken and canceled membership when they started charging for Educational Exhibits! Education is supposed to be why these groups exist!

When the ablative rubs against the nominative some of it rubs off and it becomes the Latin dative. One means reception of the title, and the other means this is his title. (I.e..: honorific vs divine name.) OR.....it might mean you can buy a pizza at Augusto's Rapid Food stall next to the Circus Maximus.

Agree. A very good looking coin with fewer marks than one might expect for MS-62. Good deal!

Very nice 1934 quarter! Good addition to your collection.

Personally, I don't like the "looks" of the OP's item and suggest it might be one of thousands of European fakes and imitations made to fill holes in collections. Unless the item is being offered by a reputable seller, and has a guarantee of authenticity, my thought would be to pass.

Burnt and corroded. Certainly neither black or beautiful. Curious -- what made you think there is anything special or valuable about this quarter?

Surface discoloration and stains. Nothing "valuable."

Let's understand the elemental analysis first. There are multiple possibilities after you have the data - they will help focus the options. (I have the data from US Mint experiments, which might, or might not be relevant.)

Looks like a filled die with damage. Much better than average photo.

After the results, then you can decide what to do based on data not speculation. It would be great if you have something unusual !

The Director's complaint was about Carson Mint dimes in the pyx coins made during April-June 1875, so you'd have to check coins of that date and mint. Maybe a Carson or dime specialist can offer insights....? As for the delay, the Assay Commission met only once a year, in February, to test the silver and gold coins made the previous calendar year. Each mint took samples from deliveries throughout the year, and sent them to the Philadelphia Mint for storage each quarter. The coins from each delivery were supposed to be kept separate so that a check could be made on the quality of each batch of coins. All annual assay coins were kept in a separate locked safe inside the Cashier's vault until the Annual Assay Commission met. A separate inventory was also required. In this instance the meeting was in February 1876 to examine coins of 1875. The sealed envelopes were opened, coins counted, and inventory lists compared with the coin count by some of the Commissioners, known as the "Committee on Counting.". Another committee, the "Committee on Weighing," then randomly selected coins from several deliveries and weighed them. A third committee, the "Committee on Assaying" selected coins from either those weighed or the others or a combination, and performed destructive assay of the coins. All the committees then met and the meeting secretary recorded all the data. Results were compiled, checked and sent to the President. No mint or Treasury officer could overrule the Commission or change data. If any committee reported a discrepancy from the legal tolerance - regardless of how sight - this was reported to the President of the United States and a investigation initiated. [Original manuscript minutes of the Annual Assay Commission United States Mint 1800-1943 are available on a 4-DVD set by the same title.]

The buildings now part of the West Point Mint were originally constructed as the government silver repository, much like the Ft. Knox facility was the gold repository. Details and photos of the original facility and updates (plus Ft. Knox) are in the book From Mine to Mint, Seneca Mill Press LLC, 2013 written by the present writer.

Well, acetone has done all it can do, and the obverse photo shows a lot of "crud" remaining. You could always keep experimenting with this coin recognizing that's it's already "a dead horse," and also have the pleasure of searching for a nicer example at a good price....Just a thought or two.

A mint officer could be removed if a coin failed the annual test. Technical quality was taken very seriously.

Well.....they march around a lot, and have coffee. Sometimes they go hiking to locate new sources of gold and silver, then they pound the gold dust into planchets, and strike coins on them. Occasionally they climb to the roof and shoot clay pigeons -- or even real ones. You can check the US Mint's web site for more information.....No, they do not have tours or give out samples.

A while ago a member asked about checking coin quality during the Annual Assay Commission meeting ("Pyx"). Here is a letter from 1875 referring to both the technical and aesthetic (appearance) of coinage from the Carson Mint. February 18, 1876 Hon. James Crawford. Supt. U.S. Mint, Carson. Sir: I enclose herewith an extract from the report of the Assay Commission, showing the result of the Assay and weighing of the reserved coins from your mint during 1875. Your attention is particularly invited to the fact, that all the packages received from your mint after the 1st Quarter of 1875, were broken in transportation, the envelopes badly sealed, and the sealing wax of an inferior quality. In order to avoid a recurrence in the future of this condition of the packages, you are instructed to place the reserved coins in cloth lined envelopes carefully sealed with wax of the best quality. In accordance with the 18th Section of the Coinage Act of 1873, the Chairman of the Assay Commission has certified to the President of the United States, the fact that a Dime deficient in weight, was found among the reserved coins of the 2nd period, received from the Mint at Carson. The Dime referred to was found in the reserved coins for the month of September, and was deficient in weight to the extent of 15.81 grains, or about 2/5 of the legal weight. I will thank you to cause a careful examination to be made, with a view to determine the true facts in the case, and report the result of your investigation to this office. The general appearance of the Carson reserved coins, showed a want of care or skill in striking the same – many of the pieces not having been properly brought up under the dies, some tarnished, and all of them coated or mixed with the pulverized sealing wax. You are instructed to impress upon the Coiner the necessity for using every precaution, to not only bring the coins up to the prescribed standards of fineness and weight, but to present an appearance which will reflect credit upon the coinage of your institution. Very respectfully H.R. Linderman, Director

Rather than put time and money into this coin, could you purchase a graded example, then sell this one for scrap?

OK. Understood. Interesting to see the XRF results. There was a span of 4 months between end of CuNi alloy and beginning of CuAgMn alloy.

So far, nothing resembles a competitive edge, or any other kind of business edge. You're clearly not "thinking outside the box" Rather, you demonstrate a confused fog - almost obsessive - about what you want to do and how to accomplish it. Attempts to help you understand reality facing you are routinely rejected. Nothing you've written offers any support to your claims, " I graduated business school with honors. And I have years of business experience." If you are an adult with Asperger Syndrome [aka: autism spectrum disorder (ASD) per DSM-5], then you are already aware of the limitations and perceptual difficulties. It also suggests that suggestions made by folks here might be futile. I will not say more; that could be counterproductive and possibly damaging.

Members cannot offer meaningful opinions without full and accurate information. So far, that is either missing or questionable.

So, you're suggesting that by stacking 5 or 6 rare earth magnets, the field is strong enough to hold a normal wartime nickel? The XRF results would be interesting...provided the system were correctly calibrated. I would not rely on anything done by a jeweler or coin dealer.

It might relate to possible smoothing of high points on the left leg, left arm, breast, headdress and hand, etc. These appear in the obv photo when the image is manipulated. Faint, but discernible. Cannot be sure because the image is out of focus and sharpening does not actually change the actual pixel distribution.