1965 SMS Kennedy matching die marks

PonyPuller

I was going through an unopened mint box of 1965 Special Mint Sets, and I noticed that about half of the Kennedy halves in the box each have a matching die mark in the same location on the obverse field. The mark varies just a little from coin to coin, in a progressive sequence. I'm not sure if it's getting bigger or smaller in the sequence, since I don't know the order in which the coins were minted, but I thought it was a rather interesting find to share with all you Kennedy experts out there!

I tried to capture a photo of the mark on all five coins at once, but it was too hard to get the lighting right on each coin in the photo at the same time. Best I could do was two coins at once, and a close-up of the mark. It's just above the "S" in trust, sort of looks like an arrowhead shape, pointed towards the 4 o'clock position.

Anyone have any idea what might have caused this type of a mark? I'm guessing a small spot of grease on a die perhaps, just enough to dimple the field?







- Mark

cladking

It looks like a die flaw being worn away.

CaptHenway

Probably just a spot of grease on the die that affected consecutive coins, which were then packaged in consecutive sets.
Tom D.

Gemineye

Nice photos.............checked mine for die patch.........***no mark on mine***...................

PonyPuller

Thanks! Would you believe I used a hand-held camera?

- Mark

19Lyds

Cool find! It kinda brings the whole minting/packaging process into focus!

I found something quite similar on a recent purchase of a couple of rolls of 71-D IKE's. The only difference was that they were die polish lines between the E and R of Liberty. The seller stated that these had been put away for years and upon seeing the similarities on about 16 of these coins, I believed him!

Longacre

What is that mark/line across Kennedy's neck?

PonyPuller

Are you refering to the mark / line on the right-hand Kennedy in the 2-coin photo? If so, that is part of the bust design as far as I can tell. It looks like a wrinkle in the skin of the neck. The marks on the left-hand Kennedy, at the back of the neck also appear to be part of the design, almost like fingerprint patterns.

- Mark

PonyPuller

I thought it was rather interesting as well.
If I hadn't seen the same mark on the coins in sequence, out of the unopened box, I would have assumed the mark was post-mint damage.
- Mark