Greg Mahan

1 minute ago, VKurtB said:

That’s what makes them interesting. People literally hammer them into rings. Dimes might be toe rings. 

Well, I've never understood toe rings! I almost can't stand flip flops! I can weld and grind on metal all day, but would have never thought of anything like that. I have a Masonic Brother that's almost 80 and he makes rings for young ladies out of dollar bills, but he doesn't deface them. He gives them as Christmas and graduation presents. It's a talent that I should learn. Pretty neat.

Thanks again guys. I got a good education tonight only to find out that someone, with absolutely nothing else to do, beat up a dime with a spoon. 

5 minutes ago, VKurtB said:

Hammering the coin’s edges with a spoon.

Thanks for the education! But, who in the world would have that kind of patience? I have a welding background and understand metalurgy, but there ain't no way I'd have the patience to do that.

2 minutes ago, Oldhoopster said:

There are a multitude of ways a coin can Become damaged after it leaves the mint, but only a limited number of ways an error can occur during the minting process.  

A planchet enters the die chamber and is struck by the dies.  A collar is used to keep the coin at the correct diameter and form the reeding on dimes, quarters and halves.  It is impossible for an in spec planchet to have a smaller diameter, thicker edge, and complete but distorted lettering next to the rim.  Can't happen, so that's why it's easy to tell its not a mint error.

As to what caused the damage?  Who knows?  A dryer coin has some characteristics that are similar, but maybe it was something else.  Unless you were there when it happened, you may never know.  But if you take the time and learn the minting process, you'll know that it didn't leave the mint like that

Here is a site to get you started

https://www.usmint.gov/news/inside-the-mint/how-coins-are-made-coin-production-terminology

Here is a good explanation of a dryer coin.  Make sure you click on they link listed at the end of the explanation.

http://www.error-ref.com/?s=Dryer+coin

Hope this helps

Thank you. I do have a very basic knowledge, but have never seen anything like this. My Dad is more of a collector, but hasn't kept up lately. He was my first inquiry.

I would still like to know how they smooth the edges and get rid of the reeds. 

Thanks for the replies. Like I said, I got it in change and had never seen one like it. One could only hope it was valuable, but it's just my luck. I'd never heard of a spooned coin until today.

The person I spoke with mentioned quarters, but I can't see why a dime would be done that way. The fact that it was smaller in diameter to a regular dime was questionable to me. I grew up with the understanding that it was against the law to deface US currency in any form.

You are the second person to tell me this today. Like I said, I got it in change and had never seen one deformed like that. I had done some research online today and couldn't find anything like this.

I would love to know that it's a rare find, but there aren't many people to ask where I live. Thank you for the information. Just out of curiosity, how do they get the edges that smooth?

Hello,

I'm new here and I have a 2019 D dime that looks like it might be a good error coin. The collar is very high and the clad lines are perfect around the circumference. I found the coin in change one day. I have never seen anything like it. I do have a basic knowledge of imperfections and coin grades. I am looking for any insight I can get about this.