4/13/11 Halves Box - Odd Composition Bicentennial Half

[kb4iqm]

I searched another Garda box today. Wasn't much there besides about 1 roll of clad mint states, but it wasn't a skunk. I did find a 1974 impaired clad proof, and a 1976 silvery colored bic with no clad showing on the rim.

The proof was reflecting so bright that it was hard to get a pic that wasn't washed out

Bob

Edit: Corrected above mention of silver bic, added pics of the rim of this odd coin.

 

[ArkieBassMan]

Re: Todays Halves Box - 4/13/11

If that bicentennial is silver, I think you have an error I have never heard of. I believe the silver bicentennials have an "S" mintmark.

 

[jim4silver]

Re: Todays Halves Box - 4/13/11

Arkie is right. All the 1976 Kennedys that were 40% had an S mintmark, some were proof strike and some were circulation strike.

Better try the sound test on that coin.

Jim

 

[kb4iqm]

Re: Todays Halves Box - 4/13/11

Arkie is right. All the 1976 Kennedys that were 40% had an S mintmark, some were proof strike and some were circulation strike.

Better try the sound test on that coin.

Jim

I tried the drop sound test. It doesn't sound like a clad, a 40%, or a 90%. It's sound is higher pitch than a clad, but lower pitch than a 40%. It has no copper showing on the rim at all, it has a 90% silver looking rim, which is how I spotted it. Maybe someone took a clad and silver-plated it, or maybe it's counterfeit. It sure looks genuine though. Hmmm, I wonder if it could be a test strike on a non-standard planchet

 

[mountainman 2]

Re: Todays Halves Box - 4/13/11

Do you have a scale to weigh it. If so, compare the weight to another 40%er. Still, nice finds.

 

[CHAINCHOMP]

Re: Todays Halves Box - 4/13/11

awesome find! hope its an error worth big $$$!

 

[timbobwey]

Re: Todays Halves Box - 4/13/11

Can you take a picture of the rim?? It should be a 40% silver half being a bicentennial proof, but there should be an S. If you have 90% bicentennial proof with no mintmark, your probably the only person in history to ever find one and you'll be rich over night. Chances are it's a regular old bicentennial.

 

[kb4iqm]

Re: Todays Halves Box - 4/13/11

Can you take a picture of the rim?? It should be a 40% silver half being a bicentennial proof, but there should be an S. If you have 90% bicentennial proof with no mintmark, your probably the only person in history to ever find one and you'll be rich over night. Chances are it's a regular old bicentennial.

Here's a couple of pics of the rim. I added them to my original post and edited it.

As you can see, absolutely no hint of a clad seam anywhere. It doesn't look like a proof as it has a silvery matte finish on the obverse and reverse. Honestly, it looks like it could be made of the same cupro-nickel that nickels are made of, but I've never heard of a solid cupro-nickel half. That's why I was wondering if it is a test strike on a non-standard planchet. The weight is actually .1 gram lighter than all of the clad bic's here that I weighed!

Bob

 

[mountainman 2]

Re: Todays Halves Box - 4/13/11

Just for curiosities sake, take a magnet to it.

 

[Generic_Lad]

It is possible it could be a foreign coin planchet stuck with a half dollar die. I believe a poster a few months ago found like a Thai $5 blank that was struck with half dollar dies. I can't find the post right now however.