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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,287 |
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New Member
United States
49 Posts |
While going through a few rolls of halfs from my bank, I came across this 1971-D Kennedy. It's a pretty typical circulated coin, but has an unusual mark that caught my eye... To the right of the portrait on the obverse, there's an unusual oval shaped mark. It appears raised and stamped in to the coin as if at the time of minting. I thought maybe a stray fiber in the die, but it seems too geometric for that. Any thoughts as to what this is?   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
Looks like an incuse mark on the coin. So the coin is damaged.
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New Member
 United States
49 Posts |
I hadn't heard the term 'incuse mark' so I Googled it.
It sounds like that'd be an impression lower than the field, sometimes created by left of material from the previous strike remaining on the die? If that were the case here, wouldn't the impression be lower? It definitely seems raised (relief?) and the inside of the oval appears to be the same height as the rest of the field with the same degree of reflection/shine.
I'm new to this, and don't expect this to be anything rare or valuable, just trying to understand before I chuck in back in the rolls to be returned to the bank. Circulating rolls can be kind of boring to sort through; this just jumped out as different.
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
I wouldn't return it to the bank just yet.
If it is a raised mark -- then that means that pattern was incuse on the die that made it. Or -- somebody messed with it and did a remarkably neat job.
It's an odd shape for a die crack but there could have been some mint mischief. However, if it was intentional, I would think there would be more than just this one example.
Hate to ask for this: but better pics might help. If you can, try to get some close-ups without any glare. Good luck.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
When the oval was pushed into the surface it also pushed the metal up in that pattern. So if it is below the field surface and raised above the field surface around the pattern, that would be the reason for it being both above and below the field surface.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
 To the CCF!! I hope you don't mind but I scaled up your pic and took some of the glare out so the members can get a better look. Still a little blurry though. Looks raised and intentional in this pic  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5964 Posts |
 with Coop and Moxking. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
That all makes perfect sense.
It's another case of: People do weird stuff to coins.
Back to the bank with it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
Note the lighting on the last image you posted. Note how the 'Y' on LIBERTY shows with a light on the left side of the letter. Note on your image the same light angle, but the light is on the opposite side of that area. That tells that is is recessed (incuse) on the field. If the coin was struck before, where is there design from that strike? Your coin was punched with a letter punch. If it was from a die that mark would be raised, not incuse. We call that a counter struck mark:  Often when the punch is deep it makes it bulge out the other side of the coin. (also flattening devices on the already pre-struck area) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3516 Posts |
, just damage |
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New Member
United States
49 Posts |
Thanks folks! coop's explanation of the way the light catches it makes it clear that this is indeed an incuse. Light doesn't lie, but it seems my eyes and mind sure do! I'd have sworn this was a thin relief oval over a flat field.... Well, I've learned something today, so thanks for that! For anyone else who's still curious, here's a couple more pics hosted offsite so they're a bit larger. They're still a bit blurry though; it turns out that getting clear pics of coins is REALLY HARD!   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5964 Posts |
It gets easier GK. You learned a valuable lesson. That's how I knew it was incuse, I learned the same lesson a while back - from the same man, Coop our very own go to guy, resident expert.
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New Member
United States
49 Posts |
I didn't expect it was going to make me rich or anything, but it was odd enough that I thought I'd ask. That's the only way to learn, and now I have. Thanks again, everyone! It's great to have folks to turn to with questions or oddities. I'm getting there... :)
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
I found two of these CRH today. One is a 1976 and the other is 1982. They look exactly like yours and in the same location. It appears to be post mint damage.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,287 |
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Posted 01/16/2017 11:54 am
