I forget, can you see a copper band on the edge of 40% Kennedy Halves?

MrSpud

I forget, can you see a copper band on the edge of 40% Kennedy Half Dollar or does it look like silver? Thanks.

sumrtym

No band.

MrSpud

That's what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure. The thing is, I found a 1969-D Kennedy that has an obvious copper band just like a clad quarter. It is somewhat heavily circulated, about a very fine. What's going on here? An error? Or somehow when they are worn can a copper band appear???

CaptHenway

The core is 21% silver, and when new is as bright as the front or back. However, it tend to tone more, so most 40% halves have a pale copperish stripe around the edge (not rim).
TD

derryb

There is also no copper visible on the EDGE of a 40% JFK.

MrSpud

thanks

1jester

<< <i>The core is 21% silver, and when new is as bright as the front or back. However, it tend to tone more, so most 40% halves have a pale copperish stripe around the edge (not rim).
TD >>



This is true; an obvious difference in coloration around the edge is easily discernible; they do not look like 90% silver on the edges (uniform in color - no band), and the color of the band isn't strong like in the copper-nickel clad coins.

ttown

Actually if your talking about the reeded edge, yes you can see a copper ring on these coins.

Coulport

<< <i>Actually if your talking about the reeded edge, yes you can see a copper ring on these coins. >>



Not on a 40% silver one you can't.
Didn't you read CaptHemway's post above?

ttown

<< <i>

<< <i>Actually if your talking about the reeded edge, yes you can see a copper ring on these coins. >>



Not on a 40% silver one you can't.
Didn't you read CaptHemway's post above? >>



Yes and it's wrong, it's very common. Especially if they're not uncirculated. I've handled thousands of dollars worth of 40% 1965-1970 halves mined from the bank since the 70's

These coins were produced in layers with the inner layer being 79% copper sandwiched between two 80% silver layers. The 79% copper intercore indeed shows the ring on many, many coins.

In the mid-1960s, as the price of silver increased and the U.S. government sought a lower cost form of coinage as an alternative to the 90% silver content coins minted previously, the U.S. Mint began producing Kennedy half-dollars composed of an inner layer of 79% copper and 21% silver, and sandwiched or "clad" with an outer layer made up of 80% silver and 20% copper. In total, each coin was made up of 40% silver and 60% copper, or 0.400 fine silver. These coins were the last regularly-circulated U.S. coins containing any silver.

57loaded

<< <i>

<< <i>The core is 21% silver, and when new is as bright as the front or back. However, it tend to tone more, so most 40% halves have a pale copperish stripe around the edge (not rim).
TD >>



This is true; an obvious difference in coloration around the edge is easily discernible; they do not look like 90% silver on the edges (uniform in color - no band), and the color of the band isn't strong like in the copper-nickel clad coins.

>>



i'd have to agree with looking at over 1000 of these. it's VERY obvious which is clad and which is 40%.
a quick glance at a bank tellers 50 cent pieces is all it takes

CaptHenway

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>Actually if your talking about the reeded edge, yes you can see a copper ring on these coins. >>



Not on a 40% silver one you can't.
Didn't you read CaptHemway's post above? >>



Yes and it's wrong, it's very common. Especially if they're not uncirculated. I've handled thousands of dollars worth of 40% 1965-1970 halves mined from the bank since the 70's

These coins were produced in layers with the inner layer being 79% copper sandwiched between two 80% silver layers. The 79% copper intercore indeed shows the ring on many, many coins.

In the mid-1960s, as the price of silver increased and the U.S. government sought a lower cost form of coinage as an alternative to the 90% silver content coins minted previously, the U.S. Mint began producing Kennedy half-dollars composed of an inner layer of 79% copper and 21% silver, and sandwiched or "clad" with an outer layer made up of 80% silver and 20% copper. In total, each coin was made up of 40% silver and 60% copper, or 0.400 fine silver. These coins were the last regularly-circulated U.S. coins containing any silver. >>



Please read my posting, or have somebody read it to you.

When those came out new in 1965-69, the edges were as bright and shiny as the 1964's. Then they started toning.

However, they are NEVER red copper colored like the 1971 and later halves. See the title of the thread. The OP'er asked if you can see a copper band on the edge. You cannot. You can see a band of toning, but not red copper.

I said most because sometimes at the coin shop we see 40% clad that has been acid-washed to pass as 90% in junk silver. Doesn't happen often, but you can never say never.

TD

Coulport

You can explain it to them but you can't understand it for them.

fishcooker

Yes a 1969 might have a band of some sort. No it will not look like the one on a 1996.