2002 P COPPER DIME

[bigbeardriver]

HI, I FOUND THIS DIME GOING THROUGH SOME ROLLS FROM MY BANK, MY QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COIN? IT LOOKS THE SAME ON BOTH SIDES AND THE EDGE IS THE SAME SHADE OF COPPER W/ SOME GREEN IN A FEW REEDS.THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, BIGBEARDRIVER......

[diamond]

It's possible that is an improper annealing error. These used to be referred to as "copper wash" or "sintered plating". Under high and/or prolonged heat in the annealing oven, Cu-Ni clad and solid Cu-Ni coins sometimes develop a layer of copper on the surface. The precise mechanism remains obscure. Do copper atoms migrate to the surface? Do nickel atoms migrate away from the surface, leaving the copper fraction behind? Are nickel atoms liberted from the surface? Are copper atoms liberated, only to be re-deposited as a pure layer? None of the above?

Your photo is not large enough and doesn't have enough resolution to determine whether it is, in fact, an improper annealing error. There are other causes of a coppery color -- chemical staining, plating, etc.

[bigbeardriver]

I TOOK SOME CLOSE UPS FOR YOU, HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OUT, THANKS, BIGBEARDRIVER...

[diamond]

I think it may simply be discolored or chemically stained. It has a blotchy look and seems to lack mint luster. An improper annealing error should not be blotchy and should have original mint luster.

[bigbeardriver]

thank you very much, bigbeardriver....

[foundinrolls]

It is also quite possible that the coin was lost, was in the soil and then retrieved by someone with a metal detector. I've seen many coins discolored this way that indeed were dug up from the soil or sand.

Thanks,
Bill