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 Replies: 16 / Views: 5,769 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36638 Posts |
I'm wondering if any of you still have the first Kennedy half you ever received? I still have mine. I remember the first day they were available to the public at my local Bank of America, April 8, 1964. There was a line of around 100 people 15 minutes before the bank opened and I was at the end of it. They allowed each person to buy one coin which ticked me off after standing in that line. So bought my one coin and headed home. As soon as the little plastic holders went on sale, I bought one of those and the coin has been in it ever since. I've taken some photos of the coin on an angle so that you can see the die polish marks on both sides. This coin has never been cleaned but anyone seeing the coin today would think so. I consider this coin to be a true "First Strike", "Early Release".     Edited by IndianGoldEagle
06/21/2012 3:14 pm
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Very nice!  I would have to think hard about my first Kennedy half dollar and where it is, but I know for a fact that my first two Eisenhower dollars are safe and sound in a Dansco album.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3278 Posts |
I still have mine, my father gave it to me when I was 7 years old.
I'm not exactly sure which one it is because I have 4 or 5 from back then.
Your is very nice with the golden hues coming in.
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
Great coin, even better story!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
I spent mine like a stupid kid. Along with my first Buffalo nickel, a lot of wheat pennies I found, my first SBA and Ike dollars, etc. What is sad is that the Buffalo nickel, I bought it from some coin / junk shop when I was in early grade school. I was a nickel short for a roll one day and broke it out to put it in the roll. I am sure a bunch of the Kennedy's I spend were probably silver too. Kids... |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Is it the accented hair variety? John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
36638 Posts |
Quote:
Is it the accented hair variety?
John1 It does not appear to be. This was a very early issue, wasn't the accented hair a later die set?  |
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Valued Member
Canada
262 Posts |
The accented hair was only some early proofs, was it not? Your Kennedy looks like mine.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2077 Posts |
Still have mine. Looks like that holder was a good option. Mine were stored in an old Gimbals shopping bag wrapped in tissue paper. Stayed in the bottom of my Mom's closet that way for over 40 years.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1770 Posts |
nice coin and thanks for the story love hearing contemporary stories from the particular moment in time
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
I wasnt quite born when the coin came out. I popped out a couple months later. My first Kennedy was in circulation and spent. Same for my Ikes and SBAs. I wasnt as into collecting coins at the time and those were fairly common circulating coins when I was a kid. And I KNOW I spent silver not knowing any better.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
close up of the I in Liberty will answer the variety question. Best diagnostic (IMO) for acc. hair is the lower left serif on the I.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
Quote:
Best diagnostic (IMO) for acc. hair is the lower left serif on the I. What type of premium increase would one expect for this variety? Do you have a close-up shot of this feature? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36638 Posts |
Thanks amida, that sure clears up what accented hair is. Looks like only on Proof coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
Hi, Identifying a shortened serif is easy when one has a normal length serif to compare side-by-side. However, in a fast paced auction environment, for example, a normal length serif may not always be readily available. When looking at the serif as an identifying variety feature could one: 1) also try to notice that the lower serif of the variety 'I' is not parallel to the upper serif of the same letter and/or 2) use the fact that a small wave or dimple-like effect appears to be present(denoted between the two red arrows) surrounding the lower serif of the variety coin? Quote:
the lower left serif of the "I" in Liberty will be truncated or shortened I am also having a bit of difficulty interpreting the verbiage of the referred-to article. If one actually measures the length of the 'normal I', this entire letter's length appears to be longer than the 'I' letter's length of the variety. At least in the featured photos here IMO the serif of variety compared to the normal one appear to be similar in length. Whether or not the article is referring to the lower portion(serif) of the 'I' or the entire length of the 'I' is unclear to me. I am a bit confused and need some clarification regarding the above issues. Thanks mdpmedia  |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 5,769 |
Posted 06/21/2012 4:26 pm
