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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,332 |
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Valued Member
United States
74 Posts |
When looking at Kennedy half dollars, are you able to differentiate silver and non-silver coins just from a coin's color? I know it would be much simpler to look at the coin's date but I was just curious. |
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
I don't even look at dates anymore. I look at the whiteness and listen to the sound.
The more the silver...the whiter the tone...but not always.
Get a 90%, 40%, and clad side by side...by side so you can see the difference.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
858 Posts |
I dont even look at the dates either. When I crack open a roll, I instantly know just by looking at the edges, but also scan through them to see what I missed. You can find proofs also by this method because they are usually in great shape and the reeded edges are very defined. Do what works best for you, but in the interest of time usually sound or checking the edges works the best I've found. Very rarely, have I ever found that I missed a coin through double checking.
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Valued Member
 United States
74 Posts |
Thanks, but I was wondering, what kind of sound should I be listening for?
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Moderator
United States
6563 Posts |
Quote:
I instantly know just by looking at the edges 40% silvers can be dishonest sometimes  |
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Valued Member
United States
271 Posts |
Really? I thought the 40% Silvers looked all white on the edges, just like the other 90% Silver coins...will they sometimes show some of the copper-color on their edges?! When I search halves, I just check the edges, then roll 'em back up if there's no silver.....argh....maybe I should start double checking?
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Moderator
United States
6563 Posts |
Normally yes but there can be a copper color on the edges of some 40%. That is the main reason I do the sound test when I drop them on one another
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Valued Member
United States
164 Posts |
I agree the 40% can hide from you sometimes. I take a look at anything out of the ordinary to make sure I don't miss any!
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Valued Member
United States
169 Posts |
After years of looking at coins, I find it pretty easy to spot a 90% silver coin among clads. The 40%'s usually still have the look of old silver. I don't know what the 40%'s sound like, but 90% coins clanking together have a very distinctive sound.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1807 Posts |
Who knows the weight of each? Some charts I've looked at don't have it right. I think I posted this question elsewhere without results. Thanks
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
1964 Kennedy 90%.......11.50 grams 1965-70........11.50 grams Kennedy half... all 11.50 gramsSo, if ya can't tell by the "tink" sound or the "color" and the "weight" does you no good...... YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO DO IT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY AND LOOK AT THE DATE !...  Edited by eaglefoot
08/03/2008 7:50 pm
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Moderator
United States
6563 Posts |
So if you are a deaf colorblind numismatist with bad eyesight and no scale.....I'd suggest a new hobby  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Edited by eaglefoot
08/03/2008 7:57 pm
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
really cecking coins, for silver all I do is look at edges then look to see if a DDO comes out. but 40% silver kenns are the old fashion way. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
90% silver= 12.50g
40% silver clad= 11.50g
Cu-Ni clad= 11.34g
Edited by biokemist6
08/04/2008 11:44 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I really don't see a problem. A decent torch will easily melt the 90% ones, not so easy with the 40% ones and the others just turn colors. They all will melt eventually but the first ones are the Silver ones. The only problem is once you find the 90% Silver ones this way it is really tuff putting them back the way they were. Unless you send to China of course. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,332 |
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Posted 08/01/2008 9:47 pm
