state quarter misprint...valuable?

[toadspittle]

So on the local news the other night they ran one of those "Your spare change may be worth big bucks and you don't even know it!" segments. I was expecting more about the rare 1943 copper pennies, but instead they focused on how the mint's 50 State Quarters program has taxed its facilities to the limits, and a higher number of misstamped coins are slipping through. These misprints, they said, are worth a lot--ones with improper alignment worth X, etc., and ones that have nothing printed on them at all worth about $150.

It just so happens that my wife brought home a month ago what I assumed was a "slug"--a quarter-sized metallic blank. We thought it was cool: b/c who the hell still uses slugs to fool vending machines?

Well, after seeing the exact same piece of metal on the news listed at $150, we were wondering if there was any truth to their report. Are these misstrikes/non-printed quarters worth more than $0.25?

[starfish]

A blank from the US Mint will still be "silver" over copper, same as a regular quarter. Take a look at yours.

A slug will normally be steel or aluminum, but not bi-metallic.

[toadspittle]

Originally posted by starfish
A blank from the US Mint will still be "silver" over copper, same as a regular quarter. Take a look at yours.

A slug will normally be steel or aluminum, but not bi-metallic.

No, it's definitely bi-metallic ("silver"-copper-"silver sandwich), same size and heft as a quarter, but the edges are not milled.

[JeffB]

I wouldn't think your blank (if it is completely blank) is worth even $0.25 since it can't be used as coin. Misprints, on the other hand, could be worth significantly more depending on the rarity and condition. It's been a while since I've been active in coin collecting, so I haven't even heard that there were many mistakes out there for the new state quarters.

...

Just checked eBay, and they have a few quarters for auction (current bids as high as $2.00!). I even saw a "Blank State Quarter Planchet!!!" with the current bid of $5.99, so maybe your blank is worth something to someone. I still don't think it will be something serious collectors will be trying to buy 10 years from now.

[starfish]

toad, since it's bi-metalic, I would guess it's a coin blank. The reply right before mine, which has since disappeared [how?], suggested going to a coin dealer. I agree; people collect anything. A coin dealer may onlt give you half of your reported $150 selling price [less if that was an asking price], but if you're not a collector sell it.

[toadspittle]

Update:

Found this on a coin dealer site:

Quarter - Clad
$10. (flat edge)
$5. (raised rim--has been further prepared for printing)

I don't recall if mine has a raised rim or not. In any event, hardly worth a mint. Just kinda cool.