Large/Small Date Kennedy? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 9 / Views: 982
WJeeda Valued Member United States 132 Posts	Posted 02/11/2013 5:47 pm 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. * Report this Post to the Staff

mfhorn Pillar of the Community United States 959 Posts	Posted 02/12/2013 09:05 am 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. Report this Post to the Staff
WJeeda Valued Member United States 132 Posts	Posted 02/12/2013 4:50 pm Thanks! That's probably what it is, unless anyone else can show differently. Report this Post to the Staff
John1 Moderator United States 56855 Posts	Posted 02/12/2013 5:00 pm I think it's just different degrees of circulation wear. John1 Report this Post to the Staff
WJeeda Valued Member United States 132 Posts	Posted 02/12/2013 5:33 pm 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? Report this Post to the Staff
solotime Pillar of the Community United States 2311 Posts	Posted 02/12/2013 6:02 pm 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. Report this Post to the Staff
smokeriderdon Pillar of the Community United States 3755 Posts	Posted 02/12/2013 8:52 pm Yes, the differences are due to wear. Report this Post to the Staff
coop Bedrock of the Community United States 62064 Posts	Posted 02/13/2013 2:19 pm 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 Report this Post to the Staff
WJeeda Valued Member United States 132 Posts	Posted 02/13/2013 4:54 pm That's probably the best conclusion yet, Coop, thanks! Report this Post to the Staff
gamesthatgo New Member United States 18 Posts	Posted 02/15/2013 10:05 pm Picture 1 does look bolder than picture 2 and 3. I have not read anything about a different typeset being used. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 9 / Views: 982

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