1965 Kennedy half dollar question
RonaldDay
Posts: 109 ✭✭✭
Are there any known die markers for BS vs SMS strikes? I know that some of the DD varieties were only one or the other, just wondering if there was any other way to ID BS from die scratches, gouges and the like?
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If it is a CAM or DCAM then that is a no brainer.
Are the fields / device smooth mirrors or just good luster? How are the rims?
On the reverse, how is the area where the shield meeting the tail feathers? Is it mushy? If mushy, lean towards business strikes.
On the reverse, how is the banner with E PLURIBUS UNUM, again if mushy lean towards business strikes.
(Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/how-to-tell-the-different-from-sms-to-business-strike.283892/)
peacockcoins
There isn't a single site used for the entire run. Even if there are markers, there will be multiple markers on multiple dies.
I'm waiting for them to return a coin I was certain was a BS, but they marked as SMS. This is the second time. I pulled the coin out of a BU roll of 1965s that came back SMS, so I was hoping there would be some known die combinations and I might be lucky enough to have an MS identifiable coin.
The 65s had two finishes a satin and the more traditional proof like finish. I've heard the grading companies don't like to slab well struck detailed coins as MS for fear of getting it wrong and being on the hook for a large liability it it were proven later the coin was SMS.
To my way of thinking they should break the 65 grades into distinct types for the different finishes which don't look anything alike.
Thanks I had read that, and other threads on this subject. Some of the double dies are MS specific, I'll start there, but that's a long shot. I've got a challenge in for another coin they marked as PL that was MS. Waiting to find out if they are calling it a mechanical error or a grading error.
There is absolutely no mirror in the background. this is a picture of another that was graded MS.
Looks pretty satiny to me
The other MS from my 56 SA coin
The 2nd South Africa coin pic is dated 1953.
Like the looks of all 3 coins.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
The same happened to me with a 1965 quarter from a BU roll. It may have been a roll of BUs, but it was a compilation, not a “first” roll.
The 53 graded MS the 56 graded PL. In hand there are no mirrors, or reflective fields of any kind. Total dispersion of light.
Just got my coins back pictures to follow. To my eyes it looks exactly like the half dollar MS I posted above. Of course I didn't opt for the photo service, won't make that mistake again.
From reading, I know that there were satin finish coins made before they started making the more proof like coins in 1965 that were the standard finish in the 66 and 67 sets. At the very least they should acknowledge the satin finish instead of just lumping them in with the rest of the SMS coins.
This coin is way closer to the MS coin above than the typical SMS strike.
Okay, I've verified this is an SMS from the reverse die, begs the question I just posted in another thread, Why not a designation? There are plenty of varieties that get designations that are WAY harder to see than these.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/594491/in-what-sets-should-satin-finish-coins-be-included
As you know, there are already Cameo and Deep Cameo designations for 1965 SMS coins that qualify as such. So there’s no need for an additional “Satin Finish” designation for any examples that don’t qualify.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
What I also know, and I've got plenty of examples to prove it, that the vast majority of non CAM coins have proof like finishes not satin finishes.
Understood. And the non-cameo examples that are deserving of the PL designation, hopefully receive it. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that non-cameo examples without PL surfaces need to be designated “Satin Finish”.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.