1998-D Quarter - PMD? 1 1

[happymtn]

If you don’t want to read it all, you don’t have to: I am happy to receive any feedback/information from more experienced and educated people on this coin, based on the images I’ve provided. Thank you very much for your time and effort.

Little background for those who want to read: I spent last night and a good chunk of today trying to learn all I can about coin production (had zero prior knowledge) because of this oddball quarter I came across. I’ve been obsessing over it, all because of some change I received; figured that if it doesn’t have added monetary value, I’ve gained something from it and enjoyed learning what I have, so far. & I apologize in advance if this post/inquiry seems elementary, I am 100% fresh to this community.

About what I’ve researched & what I see on this coin: Well, to start, I am torn between whether this is PMD or an error. There are errors that I’ve come across that share the tiniest bit of resemblance, but I don’t see enough similarity to be able to say, “Eureka! Figured out what this is!” I scoured reliable sources for errors/etc to try and figure it out (thank you, Error-Ref) and sadly, I still am not sure what I’m looking at.

- Looking at the edge of the coin, if I consider error as possibility, I’m guessing this could possibly be from a collar deformity? However, considering that this is a 25ish year old coin, maybe it met abuse in its life. From what I’ve read, from several sources, nearly all reasons for edge damage (like dents) are PMD. However, other parts of the coin put me on the fence about this.

- Looking at the obverse face, there are several things that stand out to me. First, there’s what appears to be a crack, or some sort of impression from something. I’m assuming it’s not from a die crack, since that would be raised. (Correct me if I am wrong!) Maybe it’s from a strike on the coin? It doesn’t appear on the other side, but I’m still not sure someone altered it or not. Secondly, the rim has a deformity from what I believe is a direct result of the dent there (on the edge/rim, lower right side of the mint date) Did that push/warp the “1998”? I don’t know if that is a sign of mint error or if it’s a result of it getting bashed around. I’m not sure if something like that can be recreated, but I’m uneducated. Lastly, there seems to be flaws in Washington’s hair— again, not sure how to tell if this is PMD or during production. The upper flaw in his hair looks to have some grain to it, so that might mean something? Probably not, but I made the observation.

- On the reverse face, the dents on the edge seem to also warp the rim, but I don’t see warping around them. However, I did notice some warping in the coin inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM”— that seems to be fairly close to the deformity that looks like a chip? Not sure if that has any significance, either. Lastly, on the reverse face, I noticed the rim and the end of “America” fade into an irregular flat space. Is it just from wear and tear? I feel like a baby who doesn’t know how to walk or talk here…

Wrapping it up, I apologize for the length of all of this: I’m here asking for your much appreciated (and needed) help. And, I hope to be able to pass on the knowledge one day! Please correct me on anything I wrote that may have been wrong, despite whatever your thoughts are on what the coin is. Even if it’s totally PMD, I want this to be an opportunity to learn more. Any advice on what to look for in oddball coins would be so appreciated. I won’t forget it! Thank you all for your time and help!

[happymtn]

(Additional photos)

[Greenstang]

Total PMD.   
There is nothing on that coin that could occur while it was being struck in the coining press.  
It doesn’t really matter how the damage happened, all that matters is that it could not have    
happened when the coin was minted.

[Sandon]

   Welcome to the NGC chat board.

    While I appreciate the time you've obviously taken in studying this 1998-D quarter and writing your initial post, the coin poses no mystery to me whatsoever. It is simply a coin that has been mutilated after it left the mint.

    There are a limited number of things that can happen to a coin during the manufacturing process, while the kinds of damage it can receive after leaving the mint are infinite.  It may have been caught in a piece of machinery whose steel parts dented, scraped and warped the coin. The displaced metal that surrounds every dented and deformed area of the coin indicates that it is due to an impact from something harder than the copper and copper nickel coin metal. There is no indication that the damage came from coinage dies or mint equipment. The coin has obviously spent some time in circulation, while most major mint errors have usually been found (most often, I understand by bank tellers and at counting houses) before they have acquired circulation wear. If you've looked through error-ref.com, you know that there is no class of error that resembles this coin.

    Contrary to what you may have seen on the internet, it is extremely unusual to find any major mint error in circulation. I have been collecting coins and searching through my and others' change for over fifty years, and the most significant mint errors I've found are a couple of broadstruck quarters and a blank cent planchet, each worth only a few dollars apiece. I have found countless pieces that were damaged in various ways and know them for what they are. I know only one person who ever received a significant error in change, an uncirculated cent that had been overstruck by nickel dies handed to this collector of many years by a grocery store clerk and since certified by NGC--the find of a lifetime, if ever.

   Traditionally, mint errors have been the province of advanced collectors who had first learned about the history, types, dates, mints and major varieties of coins and how to grade and otherwise evaluate them before turning to mint errors. Without this knowledge and a fairly good understanding of the minting process, you are in the position of a person who is attempting to do graduate level work without completing elementary school. 

   Apart from error-ref.com what resources (print and online) have you studied to learn about coins? 

[EagleRJO]

That is just a coin which has been mangled after it left the mint, which is technically referred to as a "parking lot coin" in numismatics.  I am trying to put this gently considering how much time you spent examining the coin, researching errors, and writing the initial post but if you thought anything on that coin was the result of a mint error you need to start over from scratch learning about coins and how they are made, and that does not include youtube videos except from ANA, NGC or PCGS.  You can start by going through the following topics ...

https://boards.ngccoin.com/topic/428817-resources-for-new-collectors/

https://boards.ngccoin.com/topic/430263-basic-resources-glossary/

[The Neophyte Numismatist]

Welcome.  Like others have said - damaged coin.  It is only worth 25 cents to a merchant who will take it.

I say this every time, but I will say it again - Collecting error coins is not a great place for a beginner to start.  This is an advanced area, and you really need to understand what is happening on the coin.  Beginners who start with coins will likely end up with a pile of face value coins.  Instead, learn a series and its nuances.  Train your eye to look for quality.  You will be much happier, and your collection will be much better, too (This does not mean you have to spend a lot of money.  But you will have to look at a lot of coins).  Good luck.

[powermad5000]

Hello and welcome to the forum and the hobby!

It is good that you spent time inspecting this coin and the minting process.  Most people just make a post of a coin without doing their own research first.

You were correct in suspecting it is damaged. It is heavily damaged.

Should you wish to continue in the hobby, keep doing research. At a minimum, get yourself a copy of the current Redbook as well as obtaining a copy of the book ANA Grading Standards for US coins 7th edition. The sixth edition can still be obtained for around $12 on eBay and will be just as of good use to a beginner as the current 7th edition.

[VKurtB]

On 12/7/2023 at 3:04 PM, powermad5000 said:

Most people just make a post of a coin without doing their own research first.

I just read a great line about "research". Research is just quoting people who wrote what they wrote WITHOUT research. At the end of the chain, it's ALL bullsnot. You have to have ORIGINAL data, by, ohhhh, I dunno, BEING ON HAND WHEN NEWS IS MADE????

[Halbrook Family]

God how I wish that quarter was worth lots of money. I got a junk jar full of that stuff. It's road kill like my dime here. Nobody would buy it that's for sure.