JFK half..... Any ideas?

[ILikeMoney]

Found this 1971 half in a box today. Appears to be silver and weight is 11.0 grams (weighed multiple times with Cal’d scale). If it were plated I would expect it to weigh a little over 11.3. Any thoughts?

 

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[Rookster]

Good box find.Congrats

 

[No gold in NY]

I believe the last silver was 1969 and it was 40% I just got a 1968 in a roll from the bank.

 

[smokeythecat]

I believe all the regular issues were clad. Might have been some in mint sets that were silver, I'm not sure.

 

[fistfulladirt]

The Redbook states that “a few pieces dated 1971-D and 1977-D were struck in silver clad composition in error.”

 

[TxAg]

The Red Book also shows the following weights for Kennedys:
• 90% silver (1964) = 12.50 grams
• 40% silver (1965-1970) = 11.50 grams
• 0% silver (1971-present) = 11.34 grams
Given that the weight of your coin is 11.0 grams, it is very unlikely that is was struck in silver clad composition.

 

[LooseChange]

I believe the last silver was 1969 and it was 40% I just got a 1968 in a roll from the bank.

Congrats on the '68.

btw, all 1970 Kennedy halves are also 40% Ag by weight. But, they were NIFC (proofs from SanFran and mint sets from Denver).
And, some 40% silver in 1976.
And, some 90% modern proofs

 

[LooseChange]

Found this 1971 half in a box today. Appears to be silver and weight is 11.0 grams (weighed multiple times with Cal’d scale). If it were plated I would expect it to weigh a little over 11.3. Any thoughts?

The Red Book also shows the following weights for Kennedys:
• 90% silver (1964) = 12.50 grams
• 40% silver (1965-1970) = 11.50 grams
• 0% silver (1971-present) = 11.34 grams
Given that the weight of your coin is 11.0 grams, it is very unlikely that is was struck in silver clad composition.

It could be a magician coin. Maybe it is a 196x reverse and a 1971 obverse. That would explain the white edge and the light weight. Grab the pickle jar.

 

[Megalodon]

The Red Book also shows the following weights for Kennedys:
• 90% silver (1964) = 12.50 grams
• 40% silver (1965-1970) = 11.50 grams
• 0% silver (1971-present) = 11.34 grams
Given that the weight of your coin is 11.0 grams, it is very unlikely that is was struck in silver clad composition.

I once weighed a bunch of clad and 40% halves to two decimal places. I don't have the data in front of me - but i remember there was far more weight variation than I expected. I haven't weighed them since and would not reach a conclusion based on weight alone.

 

[enamel7]

The edge of the coin doesn't look silver to me.

 

[ILikeMoney]

Here is a better pic of the rim and a pic of the the tissue over lay method. Left is a clad half, middle is the 1971 and the right is a 68 40%

 

[LooseChange]

Did you try the "ring" test?

If it rings like a clad, it is electroplated. Electroplating adds micograms of material (think about the gold plated state quarters).

If it rings like a 40%, send it for authentication/grading.

If it rings totally different, it could be a magician coin. Put it in a glass jar and shake it hard.