1965 TRansitional Kennedy 90% silver

mmmikey64 · Jul 20, 2015

Went to an old town flea market where this guy was selling off his kennedys and low and behold after I bought them and took a 1965 out of the case, it showed no copper core and it weighs significantly more than a 1965 clad at 12 grams. I figure this must be a transitional weight from the regular 65 strikings; either that or it is an irregular planchet I tried the ice test and the coin immediately melts the ice like bullion. Also, the reverse is DDR. Absolutely no signs of a 60% copper core and I have seen so many 90% silver coins and this kennedy matches 100%. How much would a transitional 1965 kennedy be worth? Thanks ahead for the replies.

mmmikey64 · Jul 20, 2015

usa-half-dollar-1964-kennedy-liberty-silver-coin-24927234.webp

and here is a 1964- they match perfectly

DeepseekerADS · Jul 20, 2015

Your question made me go look to see if there actually were any 90% '65 half dollars, and I've found nothing to evidence that. I've 40% halves which look exactly like 90% ones.

mmmikey64 · Jul 20, 2015

Thanks for the information. Well, I heard that they may exist and I heard that they actually do. I cant find anything on them either. This coins planchet seems to be of less detail or a thinner planchet than others; There is less raised detail and I figure that may be the cause of it being 12 grams and not 12.5. Do you think you could upload a picture of a 40% that looks like a 90%?

mmmikey64 · Jul 20, 2015

No Copper Core

I looked so many times for anything relating to copper and there is nothing

galenrog · Jul 20, 2015

It is not unusual to find halves minted from 1965 to 1970 that weigh in a bit high. I have had a few that weighed in at 11.9 grams, so I believe that 12 would not be unheard of. Just a heavy planchet.

As to not having a copper core, it would not. The 40% silver half is made by layering a .209 silver core with both outer layers consisting of .800 silver. The core, even at .209 silver, would still have an appearance of most silver alloys, not copper.

If you have evidence that it may be a 90% silver coin, I would be interested in looking at that evidence.

mmmikey64 · Jul 20, 2015

Thanks for responding and thanks for the information. I dont have complete solid eveidence but I have a really good inclination that it is 90% I sure hope it is. I also tried the napkin trick and the coin was white; do the 40% clads look white under the napkin test as well? DO you happen to know what I can possibly do to test the purity without damage?

mmmikey64 · Jul 20, 2015

Do the 40% kennedys have a copper stripe on the outer rim?

galenrog · Jul 20, 2015

Many white metals, including silver, continue to have a white appearance even with a purity of under .100. I do not know which of the several "napkin tests" you performed, as I am familiar with only the one used in conjunction with testing solutions. There are others that purport to compare reflectivity and others still that claim to compare nuances in color. I do not know how well these work as I have never seen them performed. I do believe that most people can not distinguish the color difference between .900 silver and .800 silver when both are alloyed with copper. I know I can not

As to the core layer of the 40% silver Kennedy half, it is NOT copper in color. It is silver in color. A little different in tone than the .800 layers it is sandwiched between, but silver in color nonetheless.

If you truly believe this coin is indeed .900 silver, please have it authenticated by a professional.

MD-Mainiac · Jul 21, 2015

There was no 90% silver halves made in 1965.

Carolina Tom · Jul 21, 2015

mmmikey64 said:
Do the 40% kennedys have a copper stripe on the outer rim?

The 40% Kennedys have a solid silver edge... just like any 90% coin. They look the same. I don't think that you can "eye ball" the difference between 40% and 90%. IMHO.

Plumbata · Jul 21, 2015

While it's remotely possible that an unstruck 90% planchet or 2 got stuck in a hopper and was minted the next year (like 1943 copper cents or 1944 steel cents) It is highly unlikely.

One way to test would involve concentrated nitric acid. I've actually dabbed 65-70% Nitric acid on the edge of a clad 40% half and rather quickly the acid turned blue/green from the high copper content in the core which the acid eats away. The 80% silver faces or 90% coins do not produce the same reaction and the acid doesn't really change color.

ivan salis · Jul 21, 2015

65's were 40% silver ... I have seen lots of cases where the 40% coins had "white looking edges" similar to 90% silver coins ... not uncommon to occur ...sadly I think your "wishful thinking" yourself into thinking you have a non existent "rare" high dollar coin when in fact you got a common 1965 40% silver half ...