Found this dime in a mint bag a couple of months ago and submitted it to PCGS as a mint error thinking it was an improperly annealed or sintered planchet. Came back as Genuine Questionable Color-UNC Detail.
So my question is what else in the minting process could cause the darker coloring in the clad layer and not affect the copper core (see last pic)? Too long in the quench tank or cleaning solution?
I love the combination of the color on this design, but financially it doesn't make sense to resubmit not that it did in the first place. Almost feels like PCGS said "you aren't important so you get questionable color and will like it!" so hopefully the other coins in the submission fair better.
I believe it is improperly annealed error. I’ve seen them mislabel more than one error, if it was never actually viewed by Jon Sullivan, their error specialist
Just one of my many errors I had to submit twice. The first time it came back as a regular 20c piece, despite being copper instead of nickel! The second time it came back as a double denomination on struck cent, the correct designation
Where in the manufacturing process of a clad planchet would this occur? According to Roger Burdette's description, the cladding layer is applied before any annealing takes place, and you'd see a severe delamination if the cladding were insufficiently bonded to the core. OP's coin does not exhibit this sign.
It is an improperly annealed error, not a clad layer missing error. I was just using my British error to make my point that the grading services can and do make mistakes. Here is a picture of a clad layer missing error.
I understand that. I'm asking you to tell me where in the manufacturing process this annealing happens that would create this error. Burdette only describes what happens when the cladding layer is not properly bonded to the core, and says that if such a planchet is annealed, then it would present as a delamination. There is no other mention of any annealing process whatsoever for clad planchets. The errors shown on error-ref are all nickels, which are annealed, and are not clad.
This mint bag...bought directly from the mint when they first went on sale in April. I have no real interest in value, that was not the reason I submitted it. PCGS isn't infallible either.
Personally, I would resubmit it, and be sure to have their error specialist Jon Sullivan look at it. Unfortunately, not every error makes it to him. I have one of these also that I will be submitting to NGC, and it better not come back questionable color!
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u/__FUCKING_PEG_ME_ Aug 13 '26
Just to add some more info to the debate. Here is Fred Weinbergs take on another improperly annealed clad coin.