(2011-2013) U.S. Quarter Test Strike
Judd #2225 - Mint Cancelled
New Martha Washington Die Design
Struck at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia
NGC Brilliant Uncirculated
UNIQUE
SOLD
Here is an example of an uncancelled Martha Washington test piece:
Photo courtesy of uspatterns.com and the U.S. Mint.
There are no known pieces in private hands.
Newly redesigned Martha Washington dies were used to strike test pieces at the United States Mint in 2011 and 2012. This unique discovery 2012 Quarter struck with these new Martha Washington "nonsense" designs has been assigned Judd #2225 and is listed on the U.S. Patterns website (uspatterns.com).
Martha Washington quarter-size dies were used to test the current cupro-nickel clad dimes, quarters and half dollars. Test strikes were struck on cents and nickels as well. As noted on the U.S. Patterns website, the quarter design using the new Martha Washington dies was tested in 9 metals.
The design on this Mint Cancelled J-2225 uses "nonsense" designs. The obverse depicts a different design of Martha Washington along with nonsense lettering and has an identification number 00534F in the 5 o'clock position. The reverse depicts a mountain with a rhinoceros along with nonsense lettering and also has an identification number 30579 in the 3 o'clock position.
The only other known Mint Cancelled test piece using these newly designed Martha Washington dies is a Jefferson nickel struck on copper-plated zinc alloy. Both of these unique test strikes were produced during the U.S. Mint's 2011 and 2012 testing under the provisions of the Coin Modernization Oversight and Continuity Act of 2010.
The Mint contracted Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) for research and development on metallic materials for circulating coins. CTC completed the study in August 2012 and their August 31, 2012 Alternative Metals Study report details relevant background information and the comprehensive R&D efforts that have been completed since December of 2010:
"The Mint constructed a dedicated R&D laboratory within the Mint at Philadelphia and conducted two series of test strikes and evaluations on 29 different formulations. The evaluations consisted of tests for hardness, ductility, weight, color, surface finish, coinability (ability to be struck into a coin), corrosion and wear resistance, electro-magnetic signature, supply chain availability, and cost."This unique test quarter was struck in the second group of Martha Washington test pieces at the U.S. Mint in late March 2012 as detailed on page 225:
"A second round of coins was struck at the United States Mint in late March 2012. These nonsense pieces were tested by three manufacturers: two coin-acceptor and one coin-handling equipment manufacturers."The U.S. Mint drastically changed their procedures regarding the testing, striking and production of test pieces using the newly redesigned Martha Washington dies. Originally, when the first design of the Martha Washington dies was used to test the SBA Dollars in 1999, the State Quarters in 1999 and the Sacagawea Dollars in 2000, the Martha Washington dies were sent to three manufacturers, IDX Inc., Olin Brass and PMX Industries, who used the dies to strike Martha Washington test pieces. These three companies were experimenting with different compositions of U.S. coins for the SBA Dollar, State Quarter and Sacagawea Dollar.
In 2011, as documented in the official report, the U.S. Mint constructed their own research and development laboratory inside the Philadelphia Mint to test coins using the newly redesigned Martha Washington dies.
This change in procedure is obviously the reason why after 7 years of striking the newly redesigned Martha Washington test pieces, there has only been one unique Martha Washington nickel test piece on a copper-plated zinc alloy and this unique 2012 clad quarter Martha Washington test piece, Judd #2225.
This is in stark contrast to the situation in 2000, when I discovered many different Martha Washington test pieces in different denominations and on different compositions. To date, there are estimated to be several dimes, a dozen cents, nickels and halves, a hundred quarters and a couple hundred Sacagawea test pieces.
Here is the identification number on the obverse.
Here is the identification number on the reverse.
U.S. Patterns also has a page illustrating the Mint Cancelled (waffled) unique copper 5¢ test strike and the unique clad 25¢ test strike Judd #2225:
The Martha Washington Test Piece
discoveries are featured in chapter 15 of my
NLG Award winning book, World's Greatest Mint Errors:
Below is more information regarding my original
discovery of Martha Washington test pieces in 2000:
        The U.S. Mint conducted metallurgical tests in 1999 on the golden colored manganese-clad planchets which would later be used for the Sacagawea Dollar. Click here for more info on the Brass Dollar Planchet from uspatterns.com. Featured in Mint Error News Magazine  Mike Byers' discovery was featured in a front page article in Coin World Copyright story reprinted by permission from Page 1 and Page 16 of the August 7, 2000 issue of COIN WORLD, Sidney, OH (coinworld.com)  Martha Washington Obverse Die Used to Strike Half Dollar Experimental Test Pieces for U.S. Judd #2131 UNIQUE IN PRIVATE HANDS  There is only one other known Martha Washington Die in private hands. It was used to strike the cent reverse for the experimental patterns and is also not cancelled. It was displayed at Fred Weinberg's table at the 2017 ANA coin show in Denver, CO and at the 2018 ANA coin show in Pittsburg, PA. He also had it on display at several Long Beach Expos in Long Beach, CA. His Martha Washington Die generated a tremendous amount of interest and excitement. This half dollar obverse Martha Washington Die was featured on the cover of Mint Error News Magazine Issue 44 (Spring 2018). Below is the full story on the Martha Washington Test Pieces including my discovery in 2000 of the first (9) test pieces in different compositions and surfaces. Coin World featured my first Martha Washington Discovery test piece in a front page article in their August 7, 2000 Issue. This is the only known Martha Washington Obverse Die in private hands for ANY denomination. The only other Die known in private hands is the Cent Reverse Die previously mentioned. This Die belongs in a collection of U.S. patterns or unique U.S. numismatic treasures. It is part of the ongoing U.S. Mint's history of experimenting and striking pattern coins prior to producing our nation's coins for circulation. This only known Martha Washington Half Dollar Obverse Die in private hands is featured in the U.S. Patterns website (uspatterns.com) that references all U.S. patterns and related numismatic rarities. Click here for more information. Here is the cover story from Mint Error News Issue 44:  This only known Martha Washington Half Dollar Obverse Die in private hands is featured in the U.S. Patterns website (uspatterns.com) that references all U.S. patterns and related numismatic rarities:    Here is the first Martha Washington half dollar size test piece that I discovered in 2000: |
