Post 1965 90% Kennedy Halfs

yeah, my main coin shop has a waiting list for any bulk silver.

Dear Mr. Numismo,

So there is no way these "proof" coins are 90% and therefore I was, shall we politely say, I was mmmmmmmmm misinformed?
I don't mean to challenge you especially with with a name as Numismo, but if what you said is fact I'm going to raise hell with this guy especially since I paid 11.5 over face. I know 90% silver is hard to get and halves carry a premium, but I expect what I pay for, if that's not being out of line that is.

SilverSal the proof coins from 1965 - 1970 are dated 1968 S, 1969 S and 1970 S. He's feeding you a line about the 1966s being proof. IMHO,but with a name like numismo, I've should know a little something. If he's unreasonable and/or hostile, the BBB might need to be informed.

Oh,

I forgot my manners. Thank you guys for the info. I just donated to the forum. Best money I've spent this week. And it was over 10,000.00 I spent with this place inside of 6 weeks!

Sal;
A few points:
1) If your dealer gets annoyed after you just spent $10,000 with him, find another dealer.
2) As stated above, from 1965 to 1970, all were 40% silver.
3) From the pictures that you showed, of the proofs, I'd check the rims, they all look like (have to look of) clad proofs to me.

4) Find another dealer.
5) Find another dealer.

There is an easier way to differentiate between the clad proofs and the 90% silver ones. The same way you would a business strike coin, look at the edge. The post-92 "S" mints that are silver will be pure white on the edge, whereas the clads will be the typical red with a sliver of white. About 6 months ago while searching local banks for silver halves I came across ten rolls of nothing but post 2001 coins (all of which were not intended to circulate, they were only sold by the Mint). The 200 coins I got were mostly business strikes, but there were a few dozen clad and 90% silver proofs in the rolls. I had a group of 10 2006S Silver Proofs that I sold on ebay. Here are a couple photos of the lot, including a side shot to show that they were silver proofs.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/...04040048.jpg
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/...04040047.jpg

Hi SilverSal, and welcome!


All the 90% silver halves should weigh 12.5 grams, +/- 0.15 grams (or so). If your scale is accurate you should easily be able to distinguish the true 90% coins from the clads. The copper-nickel clads weigh 11.34 grams and the 40% silver clads weigh 11.5 grams, but there is enough variation so you can't really tell these apart just by weight. The tissue-paper test should help you there.

If your dealer did include some silver-clad and/or copper-nickel clad halves in your silver bag I would take them back and insist he replace them with 90% silver coins. If he has any integrity at all he should politely apologize for the error and replace the coins immediately. If not, please let us know who he is so we'll know who to avoid. If he has an ebay seller name we should know that too.

Thanks for sharing!

I thought only the 64's were 90% except for the silver proofs.