jfk half dollar error?

[falcolnx]

found this one in a bunch of change. Is this a mint mistake or did this happen after it was in circulation? This half dollar seems to have acouple air bubbles in it.

How does this happen i wonder and how common is it as far as value? Times are tough and unemployment dont cut it so is this worth selling? or should i add it to the cause at face value?

 

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[Bank Runner]

Based on my experience of literally looking through hundreds of thousands of halves, it is not an error. Spend it at face.

 

[falcolnx]

alrighty. so much for retirement! lol at least it looks cool.

 

[falcolnx]

How do you suppose it happened if it wasn't something that the mint missed?

 

[DigginThePast]

Looks like a fire damaged coin to me. The inner core of copper starts to melt before the outer copper/nickel layers and bubbles form.

 

[mud dog (aka) Salty Dog]

Looks like someone took target practice on it...maybe a high power bb gun,by the dent on the back side of it,Spend it!

 

[falcolnx]

fire damage sounds right. That isnt a dent its got 2 humps pushed out. one on the front and one on the back. also they are not directly behind eachother.

Thanks folks!

 

[Engineer in MD]

I have seen this once or twice before...

The explanation goes that here is corrosion going on between the base metal and the clad nickel layer. Much like how you see rust bubbles on an old car. the layer underneath is corroding and the oxide is larger than the original metal and so it expands creating the bubble. Also, gases can be created.

I'm not sure how this would start, but it could be moisture/impurities trapped on the base metal before the clad layer is deposited, or heat as some of you have suggested could start it off. Another thought is that there could be a very small break/hole in the clad layer letting salts/oxygen into the base metal and starting the process.

 

[Johnny Ringo Silver]

Well whatever it is, it happened after it left the mint. It sounds like the heat or corrosion ideas might have possibilities. Pretty odd looking regardless! Johnny 8)

 

[DANGLANGLEY]

Looks like a fire damaged coin to me. The inner core of copper starts to melt before the outer copper/nickel layers and bubbles form.

I agree 100% with you. I was asked to look for a coin collection that was lost in a house fire and I found several kennedy halves that had bubbles exactly like that.

DANGLANGLEY