1964 Quarter Pattern - RB-2370, INCO

Coin Details

Description

Test strike in the RB-2370 experimental alloy, produced by the International Nickel Company on Washington Quarter dies during the 1964 clad coinage development program. This penultimate entry in the RB-23xx sub-series represents a near-final iteration of one line of alloy investigation. By this point in the testing sequence, INCO's engineers would have accumulated substantial data on the relationship between alloy composition and the multiple performance criteria that a circulating coin must satisfy. The RB-23xx compositions were tested not only individually but also comparatively — specimens from across the sub-series would have been evaluated side by side to identify trends and determine optimal formulations. This comparative approach was essential because some properties, such as electromagnetic conductivity, vary non-linearly with composition, meaning that small changes in nickel content could produce disproportionate changes in vending machine acceptability. The stakes of this research were enormous: the United States was the world's largest consumer of coinage metal, and the composition chosen for its clad coins would create a precedent followed by dozens of other nations in subsequent decades. INCO's thorough testing program helped ensure that the ultimately adopted composition would perform reliably across all these applications.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Estimated population of 1-5 known specimens. Late-sequence compositions in each sub-series are often among the scarcest.

Cross References

RB-2370 (Reed-Brenner), NGC ID: 61887