thicker .50

dank · Apr 30, 2011

hello all, and thanks for posting you finds.
i have a quick question, every once in a while ill buy a few rolls of halves, i haven't really looked for anything except silver, but in the last bunch of halves i found 2 that are way thicker than the others, are these proofs? if so are the ones with the perfect looking uncirculated reeded edge proofs too.(not thick) or are they just uncirculated?
i usually only keep the silver but these coins sure are shinny. and I'm a sucker for shinny.
thanks and happy huntin.

SeaninNH · Apr 30, 2011

Proofs have an S mint mark

ArkieBassMan · Apr 30, 2011

For whatever reason, some coins are thicker than others. Some years (like 1974) seem to usually be thicker than "normal." Other years (like 1996) seem to be thinner than normal. I have no idea why.

All proof halves that are not silver have an "S" mintmark.

If you like it, keep it! Thats what CRH and coin collecting is all about!

spjegues · May 1, 2011

I have found that most 1984's tend to be thicker than normal. Who knows why ....

ancesthntr · May 2, 2011

Not thicker, but...I have found an unusual amount of '94 and '95 clads that look brand-spanking-new. This is consistant over the last 18 months, not from one order or a couple. What gives, did the Mint hold back a bunch for some unknown reason and release them recently?

dank · May 2, 2011

they are 1977 S
and 1982 S
so there both proofs. thats strange that the only 2 coins that i have knoticed that were thicker were proofs.
thanks for your answers.
happy hunting.

thurmownator · May 2, 2011

ancesthntr said:
What gives, did the Mint hold back a bunch for some unknown reason and release them recently?

Not the Mint, but close. In my area, it's '94 and '96. I've even sold rolls (made up of hand-searched single coin finds) of AU coins for a small premium at coin shows. Halves have been over minted, based on demand, since '71. With all the folks searching halves for various things (keepers) there undoubtedly has been a hit to circulating supply, whereby the Fed (not the Mint) has opted to replenish inventory with coin they previously had not released; hence the AU quality of those from '94, '95 or '96 appearing now.

IMHO