Thin Or Tapered Planchet? 1972-D Kennedy Half

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 11,207
dcv Valued Member United States 142 Posts	Posted 05/31/2008 04:01 am When I first picked this coin up and looked at the obverse, I just thought that it was worn, but it seemed odd that the date could be so worn with the rest of the coin so "uncirculated" looking. When I put it under the magnifier, I noticed that it did not look like wear. Instead it just looked incomplete. When I flipped it over I noticed that the reverse had the same characteristics directly opposite the date. I also noticed that there are other areas on the coin like this as well...all near the rim. I did some research and found a couple posts referring to "thin" and "tapered" planchets. Questions: Is that what I have?..a "thin" or a "tapered" planchet? If not, what is it? If so, is it one of those mint errors that makes it more valuable or less? Report this Post to the Staff

pyrbob Rest in Peace United States 1943 Posts	Posted 05/31/2008 07:58 am I see this a lot on Kennedy halves. I don't think it is a tapered planchet. A tapered planchet comes from the blank being punch out at the end of the coil strip where the thickness thins out before ending. It is a gradual tapering so I would expect to see a weakness across more of the coin affecting both sides. I would also expect the weight to be slightly low. I think what causes this is a slight vertical misalignment in the dies. If the 2 dies come together and the one die is cooked a little then one side of the coin will be a little weak. The die faces are not flat but are higher in the middle so as they come together the striking pressure spreads out towards the rim. That would explain why the middle of the coin would still be struck up while one side is weak. This is my opinion. There are some very knowledgeable people on this site. Let's see what their take is on this. Report this Post to the Staff
nohope587 Pillar of the Community United States 5953 Posts	Posted 05/31/2008 08:16 am It looks like a Vegas Half. the coins go through the slot machines so many time the get circular wear marks around the rims from getting jammed against each other in the Coin feed mechanism. Report this Post to the Staff
mikediamond Pillar of the Community United States 2734 Posts	Posted 05/31/2008 08:24 am Before we can determine anything, you've got to weigh it. It's definitely not a "Vegas coin". There's genuine weakness there. Error coin writer and researcher. Edited by mikediamond 05/31/2008 08:25 am Report this Post to the Staff
Indian1 Pillar of the Community United States 3640 Posts	Posted 05/31/2008 10:03 am Is the reeding all worn off or abouts? Possible slot coin. I live in new england and we call them foxwoods or mohegans :) They stopped using them in the slots now but there are tons of them in circ. here. The wear would normally be around the edges and rim and the reeding will be just about or completely gone. Report this Post to the Staff
dcv Valued Member United States 142 Posts	Posted 05/31/2008 2:17 pm Reeding is 100% in tact. That is to say that if you look at the coin from the side, you can rotate it and not see any variation the full perimeter of the coin. Also, I measured the rim thickness with a caliper and it is the same all the way around. I don't have a scale. Something to add that I realized after my first post. My mother used to save rolls from the bank of new Kennedy halves. I just found that I have about 6 of these....all 1972D....all look uncirculated except for the issue I've described and on all of them the weakness is most pronounced in the same place (near the date)yet to varying degrees of severity. Interesting too is that usually when a coin is "worn" it is worn smooth. On this, the surface looks rougher on the low spots. Report this Post to the Staff
dcv Valued Member United States 142 Posts	Posted 05/31/2008 4:50 pm One more interesting thing I just found. The 1972-D Kennedy half sample image right here in the Coin Community Family "US Coin Image Gallery" appears to have exactly the same characteristic. Edited by dcv 05/31/2008 6:40 pm Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 6 / Views: 11,207

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