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 Replies: 19 / Views: 7,282 |
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Valued Member
United States
104 Posts |
Looking for your opinions on this coin (is it possibly a fake) I am so new too all of this that there seems like so much wrong that the first thing that comes to mind is that its not real. Here is a list of all of the things that have stood out to me after looking closer. Obverse -His head is smaller his than a usual kennedy (thats what I first noticed) is a slightly smaller in size than normal/ lettering in (almost all of it on obverse is different)/ the date, including the 9s not matching each other Reverse - a lot of the stars are blob like and not well defined/ lines in eagle are crooked in some parts/ PLU in motto almost unreadable. rim - no reed and small (I'm sorry I don't know what to call it) indention around entire circumference but only on edge near reverse. (please excuse my poor explanation) I have included a side by side of it next to the only other 90s year half dollar I have for size head comparison. I do not have measurements or weight at this time.   |
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Valued Member
 United States
104 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
The most obvious problem for me is the lettering -- "In God" in particular, and all of "LIBERTY", seem too far from the rim. The other things you pointed out, I can't see as well in this photo, but it still screams "fake" to me. (Why someone would make a counterfeit piece of this year/denomination, I can't say, but stranger things have happened.)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
It looks like a normal 97-D half with some wear and a lot of nicks. Regarding the lack of reeding, I think I've heard that that's common on coins used in casinos.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
571 Posts |
I compared your photo to the 1997 half I have, and they look identical. Sometimes the mint makes minor changes to the design from year to year. Most of these changes are so minor, the average person doesn't notice them. So, it is not surprising to me that the your coin looks slightly different than the 1990 half you are comparing it to. According to Variety Vista's website, the 1990 half obverse design was ODV-007, while the 1997 was ODV-009. So there were minor design changes twice between the two dates. Heres a link to that website: http://varietyvista.com/12%20Kenned...arieties.htmThey don't have any pictures or descriptions of the designs, but it at least helps to know when the designs changed. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Good input. CoinMom -  to the CCF! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
It is always best to do a side by side with a coin from the same year. Some designs were changed a bit. The 2001-2004 cent obverses have larger letters than other years. Even the large and small date 1982s were quite different:  Often we look at just the date, but the whole design was different from the large to small sate designs. So it is best to compare with the same year and also consider that there could be a small and large date that are different. (1960, 1970, 1974, 1982 are just a few years off the top of my head that this happened) |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
First: Second: I have handled a lot of halves while roll searching for not just silver, but for varieties as well. I would stack them by date and MM (of known varieties), and then each half was put under my microscope. Each week I went through two to four boxes this way. After awhile you get used to the various characteristics inherent to certain dates. What has been said so far is spot on for accuracy. Your 1997 likely spent most of its time in a casino and was worn from the usage. The head style should be smaller for this ear than the 1990. Good eye! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
Went back to look at my 1997-D -- it looks pretty much the same as yours. I just didn't notice the difference before.
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Valued Member
United States
104 Posts |
Coop I was actually trying to do a side by side just now but it'll have to wait till all the monsters are asleep. Any suggestions on this or overlay comparison technique?
Dave42 thanks I think you are most likely right, except it maybe when in hand it is more noticeable just how "off" this coin is a a whole. Even in my non existence ok knowledge just money handeling time served sometimes a coin hits your hand and you can just feel something different that makes you look down.
Or am I the only one who "feels" this about money ?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
A good site for normal images of the deign for each year is on the PCGS website on the coinfacts area. You can pull up an image that is large of the obverse and reverse and if you need it even larger, you can punch the button on the lower center and it will even be larger. (they range from 4K Pixels to 6K pixels) They are great to use for editing purposes to look as close as a microscope would see on a certain area you want to see up close. http://www.PCGScoinfacts.com/Where can you get images this clear?  You can even enlarge them also with an editing program to make them even larger.  |
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Valued Member
United States
104 Posts |
Thank you earl very well described to this newbie.
Y'all are a plethora of knowledge. I love reading the books but the exchange is so much more helpful.
I'm going to study him vs pics on coops suggestion (for learning at this point) and move along.
Honestly having a hard time right now sorting through the stacks of change KNOWINGLY which ones to keep and which ones for the kids piggie banks.
Y'all are the best
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Valued Member
United States
104 Posts |
Awesome coop. Wish I could give you a dancing emoji.
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Valued Member
United States
104 Posts |
Out of curiosity if " normal" what would make the actual size of the coin smaller ?
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
It would be smaller because the reeds are worn away. Also,when comparing coins use the same date and mint and the same condition. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Quote:
Awesome coop. Wish I could give you a dancing emoji. We do have this one.  |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 7,282 |
Posted 09/18/2016 5:11 pm
