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 Replies: 11 / Views: 7,883 |
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Valued Member
United States
216 Posts |
I stored a few proof Kennedy half dollars, enclosed in airtites, in a box a few years ago. I am now sorting through my coins and I am having difficulty trying to determine which ones are clad proofs and which ones are silver proofs. Is there an easy way to make the distinction? I realize that silver coins are more "whitish." But some of the clad and silver half dollars appear to be "frosted" and both appear to be whitish, especially on the portrait. This quality makes it hard for me to make a distinction. Thank you in advance! |
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
Have you tried looking at the edge of the coins?
Edited by USSID18
05/05/2020 3:59 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
216 Posts |
Would the edges of the proof coins show color variations? It's been my experience that sometimes they don't.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7008 Posts |
If you can't see the edge, try the tissue test. Don't know how well it will work with the airtites...worth a try |
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
There are many proof clad Kennedy's. You can see the copper color on the edge of the coins. A silver coin will be silver on the edge.
If you can't see the edge, take it out of the airtites. You can also weigh them.
Edited by USSID18
05/05/2020 4:11 pm
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Valued Member
United States
216 Posts |
Thank you to all! I will explore your suggestions.
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
Show us pictures and we could probably tell you.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Take them out of the Air-Tites and weigh them 12.5 silver 11.3 clad. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1667 Posts |
And to continue on with John1s thought, weigh an empty airtite and tare the scale so with an airtite on it it reads zero, then weigh the coins in the airtights and it will weigh just the coin inside it give or take. it's still about a gram difference so should work fine. heavier is silver, lighter, clad.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Weight isn't a good way to tell them apart because the Weight Tolerance ranges overlap a GREAT deal. Any weight between 11.1 gm and 11.79 gm could be either composition. This is a case where the tissue test would be my first choice of test. Since these are proofs they are not likely to be very heavily toned so the test should work very well. |
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Moderator
United States
187914 Posts |
Quote:This is a case where the tissue test would be my first choice of test. Since these are proofs they are not likely to be very heavily toned so the test should work very well.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Replies: 11 / Views: 7,883 |
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Posted 05/05/2020 4:05 pm
