Here's a couple for the Kennedy experts...

Crazy4Coins

Hello,

I have been going through some of my tubes of Kennedys trying to pick out some to send in for grading.
It appears it really isn't worth while unless they at least grade 65.I don't know much about Kennedy Halves and don't have any other in MS grade that have been graded to compare to.Need some help.
I picked out a couple that look to me to be high grade.Let me know your opinions and if that are slab quality.The third coin shown has some unusal markings on the reverse.There were actually about 6 in the tube,all with the exact same marks in exactly the same locations.It appears the have been made on the planchets before die contact.It looks like slide marks.The marks are not on any of the devices though.

Thanks for your opinions...
Randy

Russ

<< <i>It appears it really isn't worth while unless they at least grade 65. >>



For the 1964 coins, an MS65 will only bring the grading fee. If you're goal is to be solidly in the black, they really need to grade MS66 or higher. It's a little difficult to tell from the images, but I'd guess your first coin might have a shot at MS66, but the second one not. Big reason being that the second one doesn't have the "look" PCGS likes to see for coins at that grade level.

For comparison purposes, here is one that graded MS66:



PCGS likes lots of luster and cartwheel.

Russ, NCNE

DHeath

They look like decent coins, but if they were mine, I'd leave them raw. Unless they hit big numbers, 64-D's are pretty plentiful, and those two appear to be in the MS64-MS65 range. The streaks on the two coins at the bottom are pretty interesting. It appears from the pics that whatever is on the coin was transfered from the face of the die, and did not affect the star, rays, or wing. If it were an alloy mixture problem, it surely would have been visible in a device as shallow as the ray. I'll guess it was debris left on the die face from cleaning since it affected several coins in a row from the roll.

Crazy4Coins

Hey Russ,

I was hoping you were out there.I've noticed you seem to give a lot of good info when it comes to the Kennedy series.Some of the halves I pulled out of tubes look really great other than some spotting.Is it ok to dip them quickly before sending in or does PCGS do that for you?Any opinions on the half with the slide marks.Wasn't sure if it has been seen before or was common on any particular dates.
Thanks,
Randy

BTW.... Great looking 66 you got there.

Russ

<< <i>Is it ok to dip them quickly before sending in or does PCGS do that for you? >>



PCGS doesn't dip coins as a matter of course, so the answer is that you'd need to do it yourself. Because these are 90% silver, they dip quite well as long as the contamination isn't embedded in the planchet. As for the "slide marks", even if they are mint created, I still think PCGS would ding the coin for it and it would hurt the grade.

Besides luster and cartwheel, you need a minimum of marks in the cheek, jaw and hair areas, as well as the shield and tail feathers on the reverse. More than a couple small ones, and it won't make 66. The fields should also be free of marks in the main areas. A little mark or two out toward the periphery won't hurt much.

One additional note: The more fiery the luster and cartwheel, the more forgiving they are of minor imperfections.

Russ, NCNE

cladking

I don't see the slide marks to which you refer but if they are on the same place
on several coins it is probably something which occurred as they were being ejected
from the die. This is the only point at which they would all have the same orientation
and every such incident I've seen has been struck by the same die.

DHeath

Sam, he's talking about the rust colored marks on the last two reverses posted.

cladking

Oh...

That disturbs me a little. It would seem anything on the die would very soon be worn
off and the coins in rolls are not really usually literally consecutive strikes. They tend to
be a sampling of maybe 100 to 300 consecutive strikes. Getting a pair of coins in a roll
affected by a die contamination shouldn't be too unlikely but several coins?

Perhaps something that contaminated the planchet as it was being fed into the die could
explain it. The metal movement on the devices might dilute or spread it sufficiently as to
not cause the coin to tone there? I can't recall having seen such a thing before.