Unusual Kennedy bicentennial half dollar

ReneeMS

I'm not a collector or expert. I inherited my dad's coin collection and found this very odd bicentennial Kennedy half dollar with a spike sticking through his head. I have tried to find something similar but no luck. Any ideas?





![](https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/editor/w2/51w9ppb

IkesT

Looks like glue:

ReneeMS

Is this thing worth anything more than 50 cents? I really don't know anything about coins and I have a lot of them to go through.

ReneeMS

@IkesT said:
Looks like glue:

And how would that be? Where and when could that have happened? I don't know anything about coins except on how to spend them!!

IkesT

@ReneeMS said:
And how would that be? Where and when could that have happened? I don't know anything about coins except on how to spend them!!

If there's glue on the coin, someone put it there after the coin left the Mint.

That was my best guess from your photos, but from the photo quality, it's difficult to tell whether those areas are raised or recessed on the coin. If they're raised, it has to be something added to the coin like glue or solder. If they're recessed, then the coin has just been dented, and that could have happened any number of ways after the coin left the Mint. Either way, the coin is worth 50 cents. You may spend it freely.

jonathanb

@ReneeMS said:

@IkesT said:
Looks like glue:

And how would that be? Where and when could that have happened? I don't know anything about coins except on how to spend them!!

Your coin has been damaged. That could have happened at any time in the past 47 years since it was produced.

It is worth 50 cents. You should spend it.

Why do you have a lot of coins to go through? Unless you have some strong reason to think those coins have value, you should spend the rest also. Coins are valuable when they are rare. There is very little chance that you will find a rare coin simply through luck alone. That's what it means to be rare.

lilolme

@jonathanb said:

Why do you have a lot of coins to go through?

.
In the OP:
" I inherited my dad's coin collection and..."

IkesT

Loose change from the 1970's onward is unlikely to be worth more than face value. If your Dad had any rare varieties or high grade coins, those would have extra value, but they'd also likely be in holders and labeled as such, if that were the case. Mint state rolls would also have value.

If you have coins from the 1960's and earlier, some of them may have silver value and/or numismatic value.

You may want to seek help from a local coin dealer, especially if you're looking to sell.

ReneeMS

@jonathanb said:

@ReneeMS said:

@IkesT said:
Looks like glue:

And how would that be? Where and when could that have happened? I don't know anything about coins except on how to spend them!!

Your coin has been damaged. That could have happened at any time in the past 47 years since it was produced.

It is worth 50 cents. You should spend it.

Why do you have a lot of coins to go through? Unless you have some strong reason to think those coins have value, you should spend the rest also. Coins are valuable when they are rare. There is very little chance that you will find a rare coin simply through luck alone. That's what it means to be rare.

My father passed away a few years ago at 89 y/o. He collected coins. I just now got to start going through his collection.

ReneeMS

@lilolme said:

@jonathanb said:

Why do you have a lot of coins to go through?

.
In the OP:
" I inherited my dad's coin collection and..."

My father passed away a few years ago at 89 y/o. He collected coins. I just now got to start going through his collection.

AUandAG

@ReneeMS said:
Is this thing worth anything more than 50 cents? I really don't know anything about coins and I have a lot of them to go through.

First off, never mess with a coin. No polishing, no cleaning, just leave them as they are. Hold by the rims as your fingers have oils that will ruin a coins surface over a long time.
That half is cleaned and is not a mint error. whatever it is happened after it left the mint, in my opinion.
Unusual and odd for sure.
good luck with your fathers collection. Don't be shy to post pics but just a few is all that's needed.
bob
vegas baby!

ReneeMS

@IkesT said:
Loose change from the 1970's onward is unlikely to be worth more than face value. If your Dad had any rare varieties or high grade coins, those would have extra value, but they'd also likely be in holders and labeled as such, if that were the case. Mint state rolls would also have value.

If you have coins from the 1960's and earlier, some of them may have silver value and/or numismatic value.

You may want to seek help from a local coin dealer, especially if you're looking to sell.

Thank you I will do that

jmlanzaf

@jonathanb said:

@ReneeMS said:

@IkesT said:
Looks like glue:

And how would that be? Where and when could that have happened? I don't know anything about coins except on how to spend them!!

Your coin has been damaged. That could have happened at any time in the past 47 years since it was produced.

It is worth 50 cents. You should spend it.

Why do you have a lot of coins to go through? Unless you have some strong reason to think those coins have value, you should spend the rest also. Coins are valuable when they are rare. There is very little chance that you will find a rare coin simply through luck alone. That's what it means to be rare.

You really think advising someone to spend their father's coin collection without going through it first is EVER a good idea?

2windy2fish

There’s a chance you have something decent in a collection that old…
Please take a few pics of large groups of coins and the forum members can provide you with some general advice…
Please don’t spend or liquidate until you have a general consensus from members here or take the collection to several shops for an opinion

MsMorrisine

damaged forcefully. by the placement I'm guessing the placement is intentional

50 cents. i've kept plated, painted, holed, double heads via welding, magician's coins, and more. they are interesting but worth only 50 cents

OAKSTAR

Looks like someones intentional damage, placed and "sick" attempt to represent the Presidents assassination.

ChrisH821

I don't know... I'm not convinced it isn't a planchet flaw.

jonathanb

@jmlanzaf said:
You really think advising someone to spend their father's coin collection without going through it first is EVER a good idea?

A collection is one thing. A pile of loose change is another.

The OP might take a birdseye picture of the whole group and post that. It would take a minute or two, and could save hours. Or days. Or longer...

Pizzaman

Let's see the other side.

ReneeMS

@AUandAG said:

@ReneeMS said:
Is this thing worth anything more than 50 cents? I really don't know anything about coins and I have a lot of them to go throu.

First off, never mess with a coin. No polishing, no cleaning, just leave them as they are. Hold by the rims as your fingers have oils that will ruin a coins surface over a long time.
That half is cleaned and is not a mint error. whatever it is happened after it left the mint, in my opinion.
Unusual and odd for sure.
good luck with your fathers collection. Don't be shy to post pics but just a few is all that's needed.
bob
vegas baby!

Thank you!> @2windy2fish said:

There’s a chance you have something decent in a collection that old…
Please take a few pics of large groups of coins and the forum members can provide you with some general advice…
Please don’t spend or liquidate until you have a general consensus from members here or take the collection to several shops for an opinion

Thank you
I will post some pictures of what I have.> @Pizzaman said:

Let's see the other side.

@AUandAG said:

@ReneeMS said:
Is this thing worth anything more than 50 cents? I really don't know anything about coins and I have a lot of them to go through.

First off, never mess with a coin. No polishing, no cleaning, just leave them as they are. Hold by the rims as your fingers have oils that will ruin a coins surface over a long time.
That half is cleaned and is not a mint error. whatever it is happened after it left the mint, in my opinion.
Unusual and odd for sure.
good luck with your fathers collection. Don't be shy to post pics but just a few is all that's needed.
bob
vegas baby!

Thank you for your help and I appreciate the information.

ReneeMS

@ChrisH821 said:
I don't know... I'm not convinced it isn't a planchet flaw.

I don't know what that is but I will find out! Thank you