1971 Kennedy Silver Half?! - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,082
MS1026 New Member United States 45 Posts	Posted 01/02/2008 1:38 pm Hello, I read somewhere that in the 1971 Kennedy half dollars a small number were made with some silver in them thus causing them to weigh more. More so I read that instead of the usual 11.3 grams this caused them to weigh 11.5 grams. Upon weighing all my 1971's from my last batch of rolls searched this is what I came up with. I have re weighed it many times, and if you do not believe them picture I made a video I can put on youtube where I weighed a regular 71 at 11.3 then put this one on at 11.5 and back and forth. Consistent everytime. Do I have a silver here? If I do how rare? Report this Post to the Staff

Amazon99 Pillar of the Community United States 2443 Posts	Posted 01/02/2008 2:06 pm It looks like it was gold plated, so maybe the additional gold plating on it is making it weigh more. Report this Post to the Staff
MS1026 New Member United States 45 Posts	Posted 01/02/2008 2:55 pm Here is another pic of the 2 halves I have now found weighing 11.5 grams against numerous ones that weigh 11.3. What could cause this? Do you still believe after this picture there could be some gold plating? Here is the video I made to prove to you the scale is calibrated and accurate. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v...P1000197.flv Edited by MS1026 01/02/2008 3:02 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Vaslin Pillar of the Community United States 914 Posts	Posted 01/02/2008 3:38 pm The gold only looks like a patina (toning) to me. Plus, the toning is so thin, I doubt it would add 0.2 grams to the weight. Is there any way to add an additional decimal point to the scale? I would like to see 11.58 vs. 11.50 What do the edges of the coin look like? Report this Post to the Staff
foundinrolls Pillar of the Community United States 3507 Posts	Posted 01/02/2008 4:36 pm The coin was plated lightly and the plating wore off. It is not a pattern of toning. It has been effected by wear. There is no silver in the coin that is also apparent by its normal color at the rim. Also, take a close look at the small marks present all around the rim. The likelihood is that this coin was in a bezel of some sort as part of a belt buckle or another jewelry type of piece. Report this Post to the Staff
livingdinasaur Pillar of the Community United States 1571 Posts	Posted 01/02/2008 4:57 pm I concur with Vaslin. The patina on the coin is just that, "toning". I have several with it. The weight, 11.34 grams should not be affected in any way, whether it is silver clad, or copper-nickel clad. The weight should still be the same, (given the losses due to wear), and this coin does not show that. I noted that it is a "P", and the other is a "D". Even if it were an "S", the weight stipulated should be correct.. Any indicationd of having been used as "jewelry"? The only "gold-plated coins" I know of are the state series quarters, and IMHO, they ruined a nice coin, by plating it. It sure is no longer a numismatic item. My scale is "down", due to batteries, so I can't weigh it on a digital scale. I do have the old balance, type (haus, or something like that, and it is quite accurate, considering the age). Dick Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 196880 Posts	Posted 01/02/2008 5:11 pm You can try the "white notebook paper, tissue paper, paper towel, etc." test for further evidence. Silver coins, even the 40% ones, will look white when covered, while the Cu-Ni Clad will look gray. Get a known 40% Silver and a known Cu-Ni clad as a control. It might even photograph well, but I have only done the test, not taken pictures. Also, gold plating coins has gone on for a while. I came across a gold-plated Kennedy half back in the 80's. Funny thing, it was a 1971! I gave it to my brother (his birth year) since I had no real use for it. I wonder if he still has it... Hmmm. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
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