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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,235 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5841 Posts |
I stopped at my local bank yesterday and, as usual, asked if they had anything "unusual." Some times I end up with some Ikes or SBAs. This time, the teller had a handful of Kennedy half dollars for me (he also said, "You come here often, right? If I see anything else unusual I'll put them aside for you"  ). Anyway, the first thing I did was check for silver. No luck. But then I noticed that one of the half dollars looked a lot brighter, shinier, crisper, etc. than the rest. In fact, my first thought was that it was a proof, but the fields aren't actually mirrored. The edges of the coin are so sharp you could almost cut yourself on them, though. I can't really capture how nice this coin looks in pictures, but here's a side-by-side comparison with one of the other half dollars I got:    So... what do you think? Is this just a remarkably well-preserved specimen that hasn't seen much circulation? Or did somebody crack open an "uncirculated" set from the Mint or something? I've never ordered a roll of new half dollars from the Mint, so maybe they all look like this when new... I'm also wondering whether there's any reason to keep this one instead of spending it, which is what I do with most of the half dollars I get from the bank. [On a side note, I stopped at the grocery store after hitting the bank yesterday and decided to spend two of the half dollars I had just received rather than break another $20. The cashier just stared at them and asked me what they were. I told her they were $0.50 each. She just shrugged and put them in her cash drawer...] |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1254 Posts |
Pretty sad that people these days do not know what a 50 cent piece is.........that is a fine looking half you picked up, I would assume it was just broke out of a mint set shortly before you got your hands on it....nice find!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5823 Posts |
That's a well struck Kennedy, his hair definition is amazing comparing to earlier ones, I am not sure about the reverse.
Comment on the side note: Its amazing that most young Americans have very little knowledge about coin denominations, if the US Mint didn't publicize about the golden dollar forever, people would have no clue.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Very nice non proof coin. You should put it in a 2x2 and hang on to it. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5841 Posts |
Quote:
Very nice non proof coin. You should put it in a 2x2 and hang on to it. Done! Well, actually, I put it in a Lighthouse capsule, but you get the idea... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
If Jackie Kennedy did not like the "Accented Hair" of the 1964 issue, what do you think she would say about the "spaghetti hair"?  BTW, nice looking coin! Edited by oih82w8
10/17/2012 10:35 am
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Moderator
United States
187851 Posts |
I suspect it may have been liberated from a mint set and deposited with that teller. You then acquired it immediately after. A very nice find.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
Very nice find. Proofs for the half from 1968 and on, were only made in San Francisco.
And I know what you mean about the razor sharp edge. I find BU ones like that too, including quarters and dimes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5841 Posts |
Quote:
Its amazing that most young Americans have very little knowledge about coin denominations, if the US Mint didn't publicize about the golden dollar forever, people would have no clue. True, that. I can't tell you how many times I've asked at the bank whether they had anything "unusual" and been offered a few golden dollars. Quote:
Very nice find. Proofs for the half from 1968 and on, were only made in San Francisco. Yeah, I didn't really think this was a proof. But the only coins I've ever seen with edges this sharp were proofs, so I wasn't sure what was going on. |
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Valued Member
United States
86 Posts |
Very nice Kennedy barryg! I've come across cents with similar characteristics. Great detail with super flat fields, sometimes almost mirror like. From my reading here I would posit that it is an "early die state" example. Am I learning or off the mark? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2589 Posts |
Likely among the first coins struck off of a new die I would imagine with the stregnth of the details in the obverse
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
The 96's had excellent strikes, unlike the 85 and 86 issues. I would say it's 50/50 whether it is mint set or simply one of the nice business strikes. You should see some the 96 D's. Either way, nice find.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
It's a very nice strike with minimal handling and travel. A keeper!!
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,235 |
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Posted 10/17/2012 09:59 am
