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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,000 |
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
Hey all, I just have a random pile of coins on my desk, and I noticed that there were four half dollars (Kennedy) in there. I believe I got them when I bought some coins from another guy, but anyhow, there was one 1999 and three 1971d. So, I was looking at the 1971 pieces and noticed that there was a difference in the size/width of the date and "In God We Trust" on them. I was wondering why this was, as I couldn't find anything online about the different sizes.  On this coin, the date and "In God We Trust" are thicker.  Here and on the next coin, the date is thinner (look at the "7") and "In God We Trust" looks kinda scraggly.  So, does anyone know what this is? Or have I just missed something fairly obvious online? Thanks Jeremy *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
959 Posts |
My guess is the difference between New dies and Old dies. A new die will leave a sharp image, and as it wears the image it leaves will become more distorted.
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Valued Member
 United States
132 Posts |
Thanks! That's probably what it is, unless anyone else can show differently.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
I think it's just different degrees of circulation wear. John1  |
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
I was wondering that, but wasn't sure if the top of the 7 could get that worn down. It's also strange that the first 71d has very clean fields, but that can easily happen if it hasn't been in circulation as much as the other two, as you can see the wear difference in Kennedy's ear. Then again, the two bottom 71Ds are dirty for some reason, so I can't see if they have clean fields.
But can a coin be worn down as far as the first 1971d, and yet have uber clean fields?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2311 Posts |
I think the top one was stuck first. Then the other one underneath was minted later on. So maybe the first one wasn't used as much as the bottom one. Someone could of been saving it or the bank might of had it for awhile.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
Yes, the differences are due to wear.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
Sometimes a thin layer of grease can affect devices as well as over polishing to cover previous clashes. When the metal is removed during the polishing, the tapered device then appears narrower. So variables can happen on dies that affect coins struck.  Coin wear makes devices seem wider. Edited by coop
02/13/2013 2:22 pm
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
That's probably the best conclusion yet, Coop, thanks!
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New Member
United States
18 Posts |
Picture 1 does look bolder than picture 2 and 3. I have not read anything about a different typeset being used.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,000 |
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Posted 02/12/2013 4:50 pm
